BONE TISSUE

Is a special type of connective tissue which

provides a rigid supporting and protective
framework to the body and vital organs.

Is the structural component of bone, serves
as a place of attachment for skeletal muscles
allowing movement, and functions as a reservoir
for calcium phosphate.

Is a dynamic tissue. Old bone is constantly
being resorbed and new bone formed.

Consists of cells and extracellular matrix, like
other connective tissues.

Its extracellular matrix consists mostly of type
I collagen fibres and is mineralised by the
deposition of calcium phosphate in the form of
hydroxyapatite crystals, providing rigidity and
strength.

The cells associated with bone tissue are
osteoprogenitor cells, osteoblasts, osteocytes
and osteoclasts.

(ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Text Teresa Tiffert; Micrographs Lippincott Williams
& Wilkins unless otherwise stated)

Cells of Bone Tissue


Osteoprogenitor cells: undifferentiated
mesenchymal stem cells that give rise to osteoblasts.
They are located on the internal and external
surfaces of bones.


Osteoblasts: synthesise the organic extracellular
matrix of bone tissue (called osteoid) and mediate its
mineralisation.


Osteocytes: osteoblasts that have ceased their
bone-forming activity and are enclosed within spaces
in the bone matrix called lacunae. Osteocytes are
responsible for maintenance and turnover of bone
matrix.
Osteocytes have multiple branches which expand
along small channels (canaliculi) within the bone
matrix and connect with branches of osteocytes from
neighboring lacunae.


Osteoclasts: multinucleated phagocytic cells that
erode and resorb previously formed bone. Together
with osteoblasts, osteoclasts participate in the
constant bone turnover and remodeling.

Growing bone spicule
embedded in the marrow cavity
(Mallory Azan x750)














Osteoblasts line up along bone surfaces.


Active osteoblasts are large broad
spindle-shaped, cuboidal or polygonal,
arranged in apposition to the forming bone.


Inactive osteoblasts are narrow
attenuated spindle-shaped, flat cells.


Osteoid refers to the nonmineralised
bone matrix.

The marrow space contains blood cell
precursors.







Osteoclast on a bone spicule
made of calcified cartilage (light blue) and a
covering bone tissue (dark blue), (Mallory x700)

An Osteoclast is shown lying in a depression
resorbed from the bone spicule.

Osteoclasts are large multinucleated phagocytic cells

Osteoclasts participate in the constant bone turnover
and remodeling. They derive from bone marrow
haematopoietic stem cells via monocytes.

ELECTRON MICROGRAPHS OF
BONE-FORMING CELLS




Osteoblasts and
osteoprogenitor cell

Osteoblasts (1 to 5), lined up
on the surface of bone (B).
Osoteoblasts show abundant
rough endoplasmic reticulum
reflecting their ability to
synthesise protein.
Lying above the osteoblasts
is an osteoprogenitor cell
(Op), characterised by its
elongated, spindled shape
and pale-staining nucleus.


Osteocyte

Osteocyte occupies a lacuna
(L). The osteocyte processes
extend into canaliculi
(arrows) within the bone
matrix (B). Osteocytes have
a flattened nucleus and their
cytoplasm is relatively poor in
organelles. Extracellular
bone fluid fills the lacunar
space surrounding the
osteocyte.


Images from Gartner & Hiatt. Histology, 3
rd
ed. 2007. Elsevier.




EM showing active bone formation
on a growing surface of a bone spicule. X9000

CB: Calcified bone matrix.
Os: Osteoid (non-mineralised bone matrix).
Oc: Osteocyte (surrounded by osteoid).
Ob: Osteoblasts secreting osteoid.
Opc: Osteoprogenitor cell
M: Marrow cavitiy, containing blood cell
precursors.
L: Lamellae (bone layers)


Classification of Bone Tissue

Compact or dense bone tissue: appears as a solid
mass. It forms the outside layer of bones.

Spongy or cancellous bone tissue: consists of a
network of anastomosing bony spicules, called
trabeculae. The spaces delimited by trabeculae are
occupied by bone marrow. Spongy bone forms the interior
of bone.


Figure: Epiphysis of the adult long bone
(longitudinal section)
Structure of compact bone

Osteons or Haversian systems are the structural units of
compact bone.

Osteons consist of concentric layers or lamellae of mineralised bone matrix surrounding a
Haversian canal which contains the neurovascular supply of the osteon.
Neurovascular bundles of neighboring Haversian canals are connected with one another and
with the periosteum and endosteum by transverse or oblique canals known as Volkmanns
canals.

Osteocytes are arranged between lamellae, occupying lacunae with radiating canaliculi
containing osteocytes processes.


Diagram of a section of compact bone removed from the shaft of a long bone
Osteon or Haversian system

Osteons or Haversian systems are the structural units of
compact bone.

Osteons consist of concentric layers of mineralised bone matrix (lamellae)
surrounding a Haversian canal which contains the neurovascular supply of the
osteon.

Osteocytes are arranged between lamellae, occupying lacunae with radiating
canaliculi spaces within the bone matrix containing osteocytes processes.
Osteocytes of neighboring lacunae are interconnected by their cell processes
linked by gap junctions.


Figure: Bone from the outer area of the shaft of a long bone