BONE HISTOLOGY

Ma. Minda Luz M. Manuguid M.D.

 Osseous tissue
 BONE is a specialized form of
connective tissue composed of
specialized cells (Osteocytes)
enclosed within shallow depressions
(lacunae) widely scattered in a tough
organic matrix in which minerals have
been precipitated.
 characteristics
 composition: 20-30% organic matter;
25% water; 40-50% inorganic
matter
 high tensile & compressive strength
 relatively lightweight; has some
elasticity
 dynamic tissue – constantly
undergoing resorption & renewal
 functions
 provide (with Cartilage) mechanical
support & protection of other
organs especially within the skull &
thoracic cage
 principal internal support of the body
 rigid structures for attachment of
tendons & muscles --- movement;
locomotion
 mobilizable storage depot for Calcium
 marrow is hematopoietic
 Bone components
 parenchymal cells: OSTEOCYTES and
 OSTEOPROGENITOR CELLS;
 OSTEOBLASTS;
 OSTEOCLASTS
 matrix/ extracellular fibers : OSSEIN

 matrix/extracellular ground substance

 inorganic: (mineralized) HYDROXYAPATITE
crystals
 organic: OSTEOID: Glycosaminoglycans,
Glycoproteins: KERATAN SULFATE;
CHONDROITIN SULFATE; HYALURONIC
ACID
 Bone cells
 OSTEOPROGENITOR CELLS
 relatively undifferentiated

 found on all free surfaces of Bone

 active during normal bone growth
 pale oval to elongated nucleus
 acidophilic to faintly basophilic cytoplasm
 active during normal bone growth & during
adult reorganization
 can transform into Osteoblasts
 Bone cells
OSTEOBLASTS
 bone-forming cells found on the
advancing surfaces of growing bone
 ovoid nucleus with prominent nucleolus
 basophilic cytoplasm with extensive ER,
many ribosomes, numerous elongated
mitochondria, & well-developed Golgi
(+) alkaline phosphatase
 secrete bone matrix (osteoid)
 converted to Osteocytes
 Bone cells
OSTEOCYTES
 main parenchymal cells of mature bone
 flattened, found inside lacunae
 with numerous fine processes inside
canaliculi radiating outward,
communicating with other canaliculi &
with Haversian or Volkmann’s canals
 can still secrete osteoid but to a lesser
degree than osteoblasts
 Bone cells
OSTEOCLASTS
 phagocytic, bone-destroying cells
 multinucleated, syncitial – formed by
coalescence/fusion of several
macrophage-type cells; may have up to
50 nuclei
 associated with Howship’s lacunae
 (+) acid phosphatase
 Bone matrix
Extracellular fibers
 type I collagen, 50-70 nm in diameter, in
cross-linkages of 67 nm periodicity
 called OSSEIN – bone collagen
Amorphous ground substance
 organic: OSTEOID: Keratan sulfate,
Chondroitin sulfate, Hyaluronic acid
 inorganic: HYDROXYAPATITE crystals
(Ca PO4 OH ); Ca carbonate, Mg, F, Na,
Citrate; may be extracted by a weak
acid/chelating agent
 Bone morphology
Gross:
 Long bones – femur, humerus,
 Flat bones – skull bones
 Short bones – carpals, tarsals,
 Irregular bones – patella,
ossicles
BONE MORPHOLOGY:
GROSS
 Periosteum - outer covering
 Sharpey’s fibers
 Epiphysis - ends
 Epiphyseal Plate – hyaline
cartilage - region of vertical
growth of long bones
 Metaphysis - broad ‘neck’ area
 Diaphysis – shaft
 Marrow Cavity
 Endosteum – inner covering
 Parts of a Long bone
 DIAPHYSIS – shaft – thick-walled hollow
cylinder of compact bone with voluminous
central medullary cavity
 EPIPHYSIS – end – spongy bone covered by
a thin peripheral cortex of compact bone;
Epiphyseal plate- cartilage between
epiphysis & diaphysis, only seen in growing
bones
 METAPHYSIS – columns of spongy bone
which unite the epiphyseal plate to the
diaphysis
 Bone coverings
 PERIOSTEUM / PERICRANIUM – outer
dense irregular connective tissue; inner layer
of osteoblasts
Sharpey’s fibers- coarse bundles of
collagenous fibers from the periosteum which
turn inward to penetrate the outer
circumferential lamellae, anchoring the
periosteum to the underlying bone; especially
numerous in skull bones
 ENDOSTEUM / DURA MATER – thin cellular
membrane lining the marrow cavity & the
cavities between trabeculae of spongy bone
 BONE MORPHOLOGY:
MICROSCOPIC
 Microscopic:
Compact bone – Substantia compacta –
apparently solid/continuous but contains
microscopic spaces
Cancellous/Spongy bone – Substantia
spongiosa – 3dimensional lattice of
branching bony spicules/trabeculae
delimiting a labyrinthine system of
intercommunicating spaces occupied by
bone marrow.
BONE MORPHOLOGY
 BONE HISTOLOGY
 COMPACT BONE:
 Haversian
system/OSTEON
 Lamellae – layers of
osteocytes & bone matrix
 Haversian canals – lie
parallel to long axis of
bone
 Volkmann’s canals –
oblique/ horizontal
BONE MORPHOLOGY:
MICROSCOPIC
 Bone histology
Lamella:
 Haversian lamellae- concentrically
arranged lamellae around a
longitudinal vascular channel: 4
– 20 /osteon
 interstitial/angular lamellae-
irregular lamellae between osteons
 inner circumferential lamellae – just
beneath the endosteum
 outer circumferential lamellae –
just beneath the periosteum
 Bone histology
Lacunae - lenticular cavities
housing bone cells
Canaliculi - slender tubular
passages radiating from lacunae &
penetrating the interstitial
substance to anastomose with
other canaliculi & vascular spaces
 Bone histology

 CANCELLOUS BONE
 Trabeculae
 Bone marrow
Cancellous (spongy) bone
 Bone marrow
 Bone marrow- a mixture of
adipose & hematopoietic cells
 Platelet precursors:
 megakaryoblasts
 RBC precursors:
 Erythroblasts / normoblasts
 Reticulocytes
 WBC precursors:
 myeloblasts
 Lymphoblasts
 Monoblasts
 Bone marrow
 Platelet precursors:
 Megakaryoblasts
 Megakaryocytes
 Osteogenesis
 Bone is formed from periosteal osteoblasts
or from pre-existing connective tissue, most
commonly hyaline cartilage
 Endochondral ossification
 Intramembranous ossification - periosteal bone
growth
 Hormonal requirements: parathormone,
growth hormone,
 Nutritional requirements:
 Vitamins C, D & minerals, esp Ca
 Protein
Endochondral ossification
Endochondral ossificaton
Calcium metabolism &
bone remodeling
Hormone control
Parathormone – secreted by the chief cells
of the parathyroid gland, it promotes release
of Calcium from bone, thus raising blood Ca
levels
Calcitonin – secreted by the parafollicular
‘C’ cells of the thyroid gland, it promotes
incorporation of Calcium into bone, thus
lowering blood Ca levels
Other hormones: GH, Thyroxine, Estrogen
 Bone remodeling

Nutritional requirements:
Proteins
Vitamins: A, C, D
Minerals: Ca, PO4
 Bone disorders
 Osteoporosis – poor mineralization of
bone due to deficiency of Calcium
 Osteomalacia / Rickets – “softening” or
demineralization of bone due to a
deficiency of vitamin D in adults /
children (bone deformities may
become permanent)
 Osteoma – benign bone growth
 Osteosarcoma – malignant neoplasm of
bone
That’s all !