Histology of

bone
lecture 1&2
DR KHADIJA IQBAL
PROFESSOR ANATOMY

A 2 years old boy with

short stature

Presenting complaint:

1.

Short Stature

2.

Bowing of legs

3.

Deformity of chest

History of presenting complaints:

A mother has brought her son 2 years old who has short
stature for his age. He was delivered in hospital with
delayed cry and history of stridor. He also has swollen knees
which are bent inwards.

Physical Examination:

A baby girl with absent upper limb, the forearm is extremely

small and deformed and it appears as though the hand is
directly connected to the upper arm.

Structure and Location

Gross observation shows

Compact
Dense and solid

vs. Spongy Bone

Irregular, thin plates
= trabeculae

Presence of compact &spongy

bone

Bone

Periosteum
In young growing bones and in older bones after
trauma, an inner cellular (osteogenic) layer of the
periosteum is found deep
to
the fibrous
layer.

Bundles of periosteal collagen

fibers

Periosteum
The spindle-shaped osteoprogenitor cells of this highly
vascularized layer can differentiate into osteoblasts
that produce new bone.

Bone
Endosteum - consists of
a fine reticular
connective tissue
containing
osteoprogenitor cells
which may be
transformed
into osteoblasts.

Endosteum
Lining of the
bone surface
facing the
marrow and
also of
trabeculae

Endosteum
Enters
perforating
(Volkman)
canals

Endosteum
Continues to
cover central
canals

endosteum

Composition of bone

cells
fibers
Ground
substance

Histology of Bone Tissue

Four types of cells are present in bone tissue

Osteogenic cells

Undergo cell division (stem cells); the resulting cells develop

into osteoblasts

Osteoblasts

Bone-building cells

Synthesize extracellular matrix of bone tissue

Osteocytes

Mature bone cells

Exchange nutrients and wastes with the blood

Histology of Bone Tissue

Osteoclasts

Release enzymes that digest the mineral components of bone

matrix (resorption)

Regulate blood calcium level

Bone
2. Its cells are located in lacunae

Osteoblasts are most immature

cells
Inactive-simple squamous
Active-columnar or cuboidal

Osteoclasts
Large multinucleated cells with acidophilic
cytoplasm that occupy Howship's lacunae etched,
by enzymatic action, into the surface of bone that
is being resorbed.

Osteoclasts

Osteoclasts
Formed by the fusion of monocytes (part of the
mononuclear phagocyte system).

Osteoclasts
These cells secrete acids, collagenase and other
proteolytic enzymes.

Proteo
glycans
Glyco proteins

Ground Substance
Chondroitin sulfates form most of the organic
portion of bone matrix.

Organic-proteoglycan
and
glycoprotein,collagen
type I
Inorganiccalcium,phosphorus,Ca
and Phosphate crystalahydroxy apetiet crystals

Bone
3. Canaliculi link the lacunae and serve as a means
for the passage of nutrients

Fibers
Collagen fibers gives tensile strength and resiliency to
bone.

Fibers
The collagenous fibers within a lamella are oriented
in the same plane; fibers in adjacent lamellae are
oriented at right angles to these.

Bone
4. The collagen fibrils are
organized into lamellae *

Bone
Microscopic examination shows

Concentric
Lamellae
Central
(Haversian)
Canal
Osteon

ground
bone,
unstained

lacunae

canaliculi

Bone
Cells called osteocytes, occupy lacunae and are
somewhat evenly distributed throughout the bone
tissue. *

Bone
Cells called osteocytes, occupy lacunae and are
somewhat evenly distributed throughout the bone
tissue. *
The cells conform to the shape of the lacunae and
send processes into canaliculi, where they form gap
junctions with the processes of adjacent cells. *

Bone
Haversian Systems (Osteons):
Cylindrical units of 5 15 concentric lamellae
which surround a
central Haversian
canal.
Each lamellae is 3 to 7
m in thickness and its
fibers run in a spiral
fashion around the
canal.

Bone
Haversian Systems (Osteons):
The Haversian canal contains
capillaries, venules, lymphatic vessels
and a loose connective tissue
containing osteoprogenitor cells.

Bone
Organization of lamellae:
Compact bone - consists
of:
(1) concentric lamellae
arranged in Haversian
systems, and*
(2) Interstitial lamellae
between the Haversian
systems.

Bone
Haversian Systems (Osteons):
Haversian canals are oriented
in the long axis of the bone.

Bone
Haversian Systems (Osteons):
Haversian canals are oriented
in the long axis of the bone.
Volkmann's canals are
vascular channels that
connect the Haversian system
with the blood vessels in the
periosteum.

Bone

Bone
Interstitial Lamellae:
Remnants of Haversian systems that were partially
resorbed.

Bone
Circumferential Lamellae:
Outer circumferential
lamellae lie next to the
periosteum and oriented
parallel to it. *
Inner circumferential
lamellae lie next to the
endosteum.

Microscopic
examination of bone
shows
primary, immature, or woven bone

secondary, mature, or lamellar bone.

Primary bone is the first bone tissue to appear in embryonic

development and in fracture repair and other repair processes.

It is characterized by random disposition of fine collagen fibers,

in contrast to the organized lamellar disposition of collagen in
secondary bone.

temporary

(eg, near the sutures of the flat bones of the skull, in tooth
sockets, and in the insertions of some tendons), is replaced in
adults by secondary bone tissue.

lower mineral content (it is more easily penetrated by x-rays) and

a higher proportion of osteocytes than in secondary bone tissue

Histology of Bone Tissue

Bone

may be categorized as:

Compact
Spongy

Histology of Bone Tissue

Compact

Bone

Resists

the stresses produced by weight

and movement

Components

of compact bone are

arranged into repeating structural units
called osteons or Haversian systems

Osteons

consist of a central (Haversian)

canal with concentrically arranged
lamellae, - lacunae, osteocytes, and
canaliculi

Histology of Bone Tissue

Histology of Bone Tissue

Spongy

Bone

Lacks

osteons
Lamellae are arranged in a lattice of
thin columns called trabeculae
Spaces

between the trabeculae make

bones lighter
Trabeculae of spongy bone support and
protect the red bone marrow
Hemopoiesis (blood cell production) occurs
in red bone marrow of spongy bone

Histology of Bone Tissue

Spongy
Within

Bone

each trabecula are lacunae that

contain osteocytes
Osteocytes are nourished from the blood
circulating through the trabeculae within
the red bone marrow.
Interior bone tissue is made up primarily
of spongy bone
The trabeculae of spongy bone are
oriented along lines of stress
helps bones resist stresses without
breaking while keeping them light.

Components
cells,
fibers
matrix

Rickets

Calcium deficiency
the bone matrix does not calcify normally
the epiphyseal plate becomes distorted by
the normal strains of body weight and
muscular activity.
Ossification processes hindered,
the bones not only grow more slowly but
also become deformed.

Osteomalacia

Calcium deficiency in adults gives

rise to osteomalacia (osteon + Gr.
malakia, softness),
deficient calcification of recently
formed bone
partial decalcification of already
calcified matrix.

Osteoporosis
immobilized patients
postmenopausal women
a disease caused by a defect in
osteoclast function that results in
overgrowth, thickening, and
hardening of bones
Thick and dense-marble bones