HISTOLOGY REVIEWHISTOLOGY REVIEWBone TissueBone Tissue

Dr. Tim BallardDr. Tim Ballard

Department of Biology and Marine BiologyDepartment of Biology and Marine Biology

Human bone – ground – cross section -- India ink – 4x objective

The arrowheads indicate osteons or Haversian systems. An osteon is that bony tissue surrounding and a part of a single Haversian canal.

Compact boneCompact bone

This is a section of dried and long dead ground compact bone. The living cells are gone, leaving behind spaces that can be back-filled with India ink.

Human bone – ground – cross section -- India ink – 10x objective

Interstitial lamellae are layers of old bone tissue from an osteon that is bring destroyed by remodeling.

Compact boneCompact bone

osteon

interstitial lamellae

Human bone – ground – cross section -- India ink – 20x objective

Each osteon runs more-or-less parallel to the long axis of the bone. If you see a canal that is perpendicular, it is a Volkmann’s canal.

Compact boneCompact bone

Haversian canal

osteocytic lacuna

lamellae

interstitial

lamellaeinterstiti

al lamellae

Human bone – ground – cross section -- India ink – 40x objective

Canaliculi are tiny canals passing through the bone matrix, connecting one osteocyte to another, ultimately connecting them all to the Haversian canal.

Compact boneCompact bone

Haversian canal

osteocytic lacuna

lamellae canalicul

i

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