Histology · Connective tissue, cartilage and bone
Bone tissue: cells, compact and spongy bone !
- Tissue
Bone is a living, mineralized connective tissue that is constantly built and broken down by its own cells.
Updated 2026-11-01
See it in 3D: Femur · Humerus · Tibia
What it is
Bone tissue is a connective tissue whose matrix is about one third organic (mainly type I collagen, the osteoid) and two thirds mineral (hydroxyapatite). Four cell types build, maintain and resorb it. It is arranged as dense compact bone on the outside of every bone and as a lattice of spongy bone inside, which holds the red marrow.
Structure
- Compact (cortical) bone is built of osteons (Haversian systems): concentric lamellae around a central (Haversian) canal with vessels and nerves.
- Perforating (Volkmann) canals run across the osteons and link central canals with the periosteum and marrow cavity.
- Interstitial lamellae are remnants of old osteons between new ones; circumferential lamellae run under the periosteum and endosteum.
- Spongy (cancellous, trabecular) bone is a lattice of trabeculae aligned with lines of stress, with no osteons; marrow fills the spaces.
- Periosteum: outer fibrous layer and inner osteogenic layer, anchored by Sharpey fibres; endosteum lines the marrow cavity.
- Woven (immature) bone has randomly arranged collagen and many cells; lamellar (mature) bone has orderly layers.
Function
- Support and protection.
- Levers for muscles.
- Calcium and phosphate reservoir under parathyroid hormone, vitamin D and calcitonin control.
- Houses red marrow (blood formation) in spongy bone.
Bone cells
| Cell | Origin | What it does | How it looks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osteoprogenitor (osteogenic) cell | Mesenchymal stem cell | Divides and becomes osteoblasts | Flat cells in the inner periosteum and endosteum |
| Osteoblast | Osteoprogenitor cell | Lays down osteoid and starts its mineralization | Cuboidal basophilic cells in a row on bone surfaces |
| Osteocyte | Osteoblast trapped in matrix | Senses load and maintains the matrix; signals remodeling | Small cell in a lacuna, with processes in canaliculi |
| Osteoclast | Monocyte–macrophage lineage | Resorbs bone with acid and enzymes | Large multinucleated cell with a ruffled border in a Howship lacuna |
Clinical notes
- Osteoporosis: bone mass and trabecular connections are lost but the bone that remains is normally mineralized; vertebrae, hip and wrist break with minor trauma.
- Osteogenesis imperfecta: abnormal type I collagen gives brittle bones and blue sclerae.
- Osteopetrosis: defective osteoclasts make dense but brittle bone that crowds out the marrow.
- Osteomyelitis: infection spreads through Haversian and Volkmann canals and can leave dead bone (sequestrum).
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
From which cell lineage do osteoclasts arise?
The monocyte–macrophage lineage of the bone marrow; they fuse into large multinucleated cells.
What is an osteon?
The unit of compact bone: concentric lamellae of matrix around a central Haversian canal that carries vessels and nerves, with osteocytes in lacunae between lamellae.
How do osteocytes buried in matrix get nutrients?
Through cell processes running in tiny canals (canaliculi) that connect neighbouring osteocytes by gap junctions and reach the central canal.
In osteoporosis, is the remaining bone poorly mineralized?
No. There is less bone and fewer trabecular connections, but the bone present is normally mineralized; poor mineralization is osteomalacia.
See it in 3D
The structures of Durgical's 3D anatomy where it is found.
Related
- Ossification, growth plate and bone remodeling
- Cartilage: hyaline, elastic, fibrocartilage
- Connective tissue proper: cells and fibres
- Hematopoiesis and bone marrow
- Extracellular matrix: collagen types, elastin, ground substance
Related conditions
- Osteoporosis
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture
- Femoral Neck Fracture
- Osteomyelitis
Educational content on normal microscopic structure and its clinical relevance; no substitute for studying slides or for a health professional's advice.
Sources: 6.3 Bone Structure (OpenStax, 2022); Structure of Bone Tissue (National Cancer Institute, SEER Training Modules, 2024); Osteoporosis (MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.