Bone and Cartilage Histology

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the histology, types, anatomy, and developmental processes of bone and cartilage tissues as described in Professor Wong's lecture.

Chondrocytes

Cartilage cells responsible for creating, maintaining, and repairing ground substance.

Lacunae

Spaces inhabited by chondrocytes or osteocytes; the term is Latin for "lake."

Avascular

Term meaning a tissue does not receive direct blood supply, which is a characteristic of cartilage that results in long healing times.

Hyaline

The most common type of cartilage in the body; it is gel-like, strong, and flexible, and is found in costal cartilages, the larynx, trachea, and most joints.

Elastic

A type of cartilage that is flexible due to elastin fibers; located in the ear-lobes and epiglottis.

Fibrocartilage

A tough type of cartilage containing thick bundles of collagen; found in intervertebral discs and the meniscus in knees.

Osteocytes

Bone cells housed in lacunae that regulate bone creation and breakdown and sense forces.

Osteoblasts

Cells that create bone and move around the surface of bone.

Osteoclasts

Cells that break down bone and move around the surface of bone.

Compact bone

Also known as cortical bone; it is dense, strong, weight-bearing tissue found surrounding all bones.

Spongy bone

Also known as cancellous or trabecular bone; it is porous and lightweight tissue found filling most bones.

Central canals

Structures located in the middle of each osteon that carry arteries, veins, and nerves, connecting to each other.

Diploë

The layer of spongy bone found between two layers of compact bone in the anatomy of a flat bone.

Epiphysis

The proximal or distal ends of a long bone, containing spongy bone and articular cartilage.

Diaphysis

The shaft of a long bone, containing the medullary cavity and yellow bone marrow.

Periosteum

The outer membrane of a bone that nutrient arteries penetrate.

Endosteum

The membrane lining the medullary cavity and covering the trabeculae of spongy bone.

Ossification

The developmental process of transformation of soft tissue into bone.

Intramembranous ossification

A pattern where bone forms directly from embryonic tissue; specifically occurs in flat bones such as those in the skull.

Endochondral ossification

A pattern where a hyaline cartilage template is replaced by bone; specifically occurs in long bones such as the humerus and femur.

Proliferation zone

The area of the epiphyseal plate where cartilage cells undergo mitosis.

Hypertrophic zone

The area of the epiphyseal plate where older cartilage cells enlarge.

Calcification zone

The area of the epiphyseal plate where the matrix becomes calcified, cartilage cells die, and the matrix begins deteriorating.

Ossification zone

The area of the epiphyseal plate where new bone is forming.

Resorption

The process of breaking down bone matrix by osteoclasts during remodeling.

Deposition

The process of adding new bone by osteoblasts during remodeling.