Bone

For the television series, see Bones (TV series).

Bones are parts of the skeleton of vertebrates. They also protect organs inside our body.^[1]

Bone
The bones of a human foot
Identifiers
MeSH	D001842
TA	A02.0.00.000
TH	H3.01.00.0.00001
FMA	5018
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The bones are the framework of the body. Without them we would be a pile of organs and skin on the ground and would not be able to move.

Bones also protect us. The skull protects the brain and the ribs protect the heart and lungs. The jaw and skull support the facial muscles, which help us eat and move our mouth. The pelvis protects the reproductive organs, and vertebrae protect the spinal cord.

Bone is living tissue, and must be maintained by taking regular exercise and by having calcium from foods like milk, and dark leafy greens such as spinach. The bone marrow in the middle of the bigger bones makes our red blood cells.

Structure

Bone marrow

Long bones are hollow, with a central core which is not strong like the rest of the bone. It contains the bone marrow, one of the most important tissues in the vertebrate body. It produces blood cells for the blood system, and lymphocytes for the immune system.

Diagram of a typical long bone: shows compact (cortical) and cancellous (spongy) bone

Osteons

microscopic bone structure

Osteons are the small units of which the hardest parts of human bones are made. They are roughly cylindrical, and about 0.2mm wide and a few millimeters long. They are found in the bone in most mammals, and many reptiles, birds and amphibians.^[2] Inside the osteons are bone cells called osteocytes, each living in its own small space. Osteocytes make contact with each other by cytoplasmic processes through a network of tiny canals. This allows the exchange of nutrients and metabolic waste. Collagen fibers in each ring of cells ('lamellae') give them structure.^[3]

Osteons have a hole down the middle, called the haversian canal. This canal contains the bone's blood supply. It also contains capillaries, and nerve fibres.^[4]

The details of osteon structure varies between bones and parts of bones, from species to species, between sexes, and by age and environmental factors.^[5][6]

References

1. My First Book on the Human Body. Bath: Robert Frederick. 2004. ISBN 0-7554-3506-0. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
2. Martiniaková, Monika 2003. Differences among species in microstructure of mammalian skeleton. Dissertation, Nitra
3. Cooper, Reginald R.; Milgram, James W.; and Robinson, Robert A. 1966. Morphology of the osteon: an electron microscopic study. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 48: 1239-1271.
4. "Haversian". The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
5. Klevezal G. 1996. Recording structures of mammals.
6. Paget's disease: http://www.pathology.vcu.edu/education/musculo/lab2g.htm%5B%5D