Skeletal System Anatomy and Histology Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key histological, structural, and anatomical terms of the human skeletal system based on the lecture.

Osteon

The structural unit of bone tissue, consisting of concentric circles or columns organized around a central canal.

Central canal

A vertical tunnel running through the center of an osteon that contains blood vessels.

Lamellae

Concentric layers of calcium phosphate rock matrix in bone connective tissue.

Osteocytes

Specialized bone cells that maintain the surrounding bony connective tissue.

Lacunae

Tiny depressions or spaces within the bone matrix in which individual osteocytes reside.

Canaliculi

A network of tiny, sideways-running canals connecting lacunae that allow osteocytes to communicate with one another.

Periosteum

The layer of connective tissue that covers and encircles the outer surface of an entire bone.

Endosteum

The internal connective tissue layer lining the inner cavities of a bone, separating the hard bone tissue from the marrow.

Red bone marrow

Soft bone tissue responsible for producing blood cells, characterized by its red coloration from red blood cells.

Yellow marrow

Soft bone marrow composed primarily of fat.

Perforating canals

Horizontal, side-to-side canals in bone through which blood vessels travel to connect central canals.

Compact bone

Dense bone tissue composed of tightly packed osteons, giving the bone a smooth outer appearance and high structural support.

Spongy bone

Bone tissue containing fewer, less densely packed osteons, typically located beneath compact bone and in the ends of long bones.

Medullary cavity

The internal space in the middle of a long bone shaft (diaphysis) filled with marrow in living bone.

Epiphyses

The two expanded ends of a long bone, categorized as proximal or distal based on attachment distance.

Diaphysis

The central shaft of a long bone between the two epiphyses, consisting largely of compact bone surrounding the medullary cavity.

Short bones

Bones that are roughly equal in length and width, such as carpals and tarsals.

Irregular bones

Bones with complex shapes that do not fit into the long, short, or flat bone categories, such as vertebrae.

Foramen

An opening or hole passing through a bone, such as the vertebral foramen.

Fossa

A depression in a bone that acts as a socket for organs or provides an articulation site for adjacent bones.

Articulations

Joint structures where individual bones meet and connect to allow movement.