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Bone Tissue: Compact Bone

Author: Aaron Mullally

Overview of Compact Bone

Compact bone is a highly organized tissue found within our bones. The three dimensional functional units within compact bone are called osteons. The cells within the bony matrix of the osteons are called osteocytes. As you look at images of the osteons notice how the osteocytes organize themselves around the hollow central canal called a Haversian canal. The Haversian canal is the life source of the osteocytes as it contains blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics. The osteocytes have cellular extensions that toward each other and the Haversian canals within small canals called canaliculi. This feature is especially important for the cells that are farther away from the Haversian canal because this gets them closer to the vessels within the canal. Notice all of the dark heavy looking material in between the osteocytes, that is the lamallae or compact bony matrix.

Source: The mind of Aaron

Compact Bone

This video will break down the osteon and how Haversian canals are organized within compact bone.

Source: Self made with images from Marieb and http://www.udel.edu/biology/Wags/histopage/colorpage/colorpage.htm

Compact Bone Images

Here are some images for you to study after watching the above video. Try identify all of the structures that are in the first slide (list of terms)