Glossary
- Articular Cartilage
- thin layer of cartilage covering an epiphysis; reduces friction and acts as a shock absorber.
- Bone
- a living, changing tissue. Bone grows as we grow, but is not stagnant once we reach maturity. Bone tissue has blood vessels running through it, feeding it needed nutrients to build new protein scaffolding and add the minerals for added structural hardness.
- Canaliculi
- (singular = canaliculus), little, canal-like channels within the bone matrix.
- Cartilage
- semi-rigid form of connective tissue, provides flexibility and smooth surfaces for movement.
- Central Canal
- longitudinal channel in the center of each osteon; contains blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels; also known as the Haversian canal.
- Compact Bone
- dense osseous tissue that can withstand compressive forces.
- Diaphysis
- tubular shaft that runs between the proximal and distal ends of a long bone.
- Diploë
- layer of spongy bone, that is sandwiched between two the layers of compact bone found in flat bones.
- Endosteum
- delicate membranous lining of a bones medullary cavity.
- Epiphyseal Plate
- (also, growth plate) sheet of hyaline cartilage in the metaphysis of an immature bone; replaced by bone tissue as the organ grows in length.
- Epiphysis
- wide sections at each end of a long bone; filled with spongy bone and red marrow.
- Flat Bone
- although a flat bone is typically thin, it is also often curved. Flat bones serve as points of attachment for muscles and often protect internal organs.
- Hematopoiesis
- the production of blood cells.
- Irregular Bone
- one that does not have any easily characterized shape and therefore does not fit any other classification. These bones tend to have more complex shapes, like the vertebrae that support the spinal cord and protect it from compressive forces.
- Lacunae
- (singular = lacuna) spaces in a bone that house an osteocyte.
- Long Bone
- a bone that is longer than it is wide and is found in the appendages, such as the arm and hand.
- Medullary Cavity
- hollow region of the diaphysis; filled with yellow marrow.
- Osseous Tissue
- a hard, dense connective tissue that forms most of the adult skeleton, the support structure of the body.
- Osteoblast
- cell responsible for forming new bone.
- Osteoclast
- cell responsible for resorbing bone.
- Osteocyte
- primary cell in mature bone; responsible for maintaining the matrix.
- Osteogenic Cell
- undifferentiated cell with high mitotic activity; the only bone cells that divide; they differentiate and develop into osteoblasts.
- Osteon
- (also, Haversian system) basic structural unit of compact bone; made of concentric layers of calcified matrix.
- Patellar Bone
- in the knees are the only round bones found in common with every person.
- Perforating Canal
- (also, Volkmanns canal) channel that branches off from the central canal and houses vessels and nerves that extend to the periosteum and endosteum.
- Periosteum
- fibrous membrane covering the outer surface of bone and continuous with ligaments.
- Red Marrow
- the site of hematopoiesis; where red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are all produced.
- Skeletal System
- the body system composed of bones and cartilage that supports the body, facilitates movement, protects internal organs, produces blood cells and stores/releases minerals and fat.
- Sesamoid Bone
- a small, round bone that, as the name suggests, is shaped like a sesame seed. These bones form in tendons (the sheaths of tissue that connect bones to muscles) where a great deal of pressure is generated in a joint. The sesamoid bones protect tendons by helping them overcome compressive force.
- Short Bone
- a bone that is longer than it is wide and is found in the appendages, such as the arm and hand.
- Spongy Bone
- (also, cancellous bone) trabeculated osseous tissue that supports shifts in weight distribution.
- Trabeculae
- (singular = trabecula) spikes or sections of the lattice-like matrix in spongy bone.
- Yellow Marrow
- contains adipose tissue; the triglycerides stored in the adipocytes of the tissue can serve as a source of energy.
Grant and Other Information
Except where otherwise noted, this work by The Community College Consortium for Bioscience Credentials is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Text from BioBook licensed under CC BY NC SA and Boundless Biology Open Textbook licensed under CC BY SA..
Other text from OpenStaxCollege licensed under CC BY 3.0. Modified by Alice Rudolph, M.A. and Amy Bauguess, M.S. for c3bc.
Instructional Design by Courtney A. Harrington, Ph.D., Helen Dollyhite, M.A. and Caroline Smith, M.A. for c3bc.
Media by Brittany Clark and Antonio Davis for c3bc.
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