Bone Extracellular Matrix
Chapter 6: Skeletal System
Contains collagen and minerals, including calcium and
BONES AND BONE TISSUE phosphate. The ropelike collagen fibers lend flexible strength
Components of Skeletal System to the bone. The mineral component gives bone compression
(weight-bearing) strength. Most of the mineral in bone is in
Bones the form of calcium phosphate crystals called
Cartilages hydroxyapatite.
Tendons Shape Classification of Bones
Ligaments
Four bone shape classifications: long, short, flat, irregular.
Long bones are longer than they are wide. Ex.: upper and
lower limb bones. Short bones are approximately as wide as
they are long. Ex.: bones of wrist and ankle. Flat bones have
a relatively thin, flattened shape. Ex.: bones of skull and
sternum. Irregular bones include vertebrae and facial bones,
which have shapes that do not fit readily into the other three
categories.
Long Bone Structures
Diaphysis: Shaft, Compact Bone tissue (on outside)
Epiphysis: Ends spongy bone tissue
Articular cartilage: covers epiphyses, reduces friction
Epiphyseal plate: site of growth between diaphysis and
epiphysis.
Medullary cavity: center of diaphysis red or yellow marrow.
Periosteum: membrane around bone’s outer surface.
Endosteum: membrane that line medullary cavity.
Skeletal System Functions
Body Support
Organ Protection
Body Movement
Mineral Storage
Blood cell production
Extracellular Matrix
Bone, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments of the skeletal system
are all connective tissues. Their characteristics are largely
determined by the composition of their extracellular matrix.
The matrix always contains collagen, ground substance, and
other organic molecules, as well as water and minerals.
Collagen is a tough, ropelike protein. Proteoglycans are large
molecules consisting of many polysaccharides attaching to
and encircling core proteins. They form large aggregates and
attract water. The extracellular matrix of tendons and
ligaments contains large amounts of collagen fibers, making
these structures very tough, like ropes or cables.
Bone Marrow
Cartilage Extracellular Matrix Marrow soft tissues that fill the spaces/cavities inside the
Contains collagen and proteoglycans. Collagen makes bone. Red marrow is the location of blood forming cells.
cartilage tough. Proteoglycans make it smooth and resilient. Yellow marrow is mostly fat. Newborns mostly have blood
Cartilage is relatively rigid, but springs back to life when bent making red bone marrow. In adults, yellow bone marrow
or slightly compressed. An excellent shock absorber. replaces red bone marrow in the diaphysis. Most red bone
marrow in adults is in flat bones and long bones of the femur
and humerus.
Compact Bone Tissue Intramembranous Ossification
Location: outer part of diaphysis (long bones) and thinner Occurs when osteoblasts begin to produce bone within
surfaces of other bones. Osteon: structural unit of compact connective tissue. This occurs primarily in the bones of the
bone; includes lamella, lacunae, canaliculus, central canal, skull. Osteoblasts line up on the surface of connective tissue
osteocytes. Lamella: rings of bone matrix. Lacunae: spaces fibers and begin depositing bone matrix to form trabeculae.
between lamella. Canaliculus: tiny canals; transport nutrients This process begins in areas called ossification centers and
and remove waste. Central canal: center of osteon; contains the trabeculae radiate out from the centers. Usually, two or
blood vessels. (Refer to figure 6.3 8th/10TH ed. Book) more ossification centers exist in each flat skull bone and
mature skull bones result from fusion of these centers as they
Spongy (Cancellous) Bone Tissue enlarge. The trabeculae are constantly remodeled, and they
Spongy bone is located at the epiphysis of long bones and may enlarge or be replaced by compact bone.
center of other bones. It has trabeculae, which are
interconnecting rods, and spaces that contain marrow. It has
no osteons.
Bone Cells
Osteoblasts: responsible for the formation of bone and the
repair and remodeling of bone. Osteocytes: cells that Endochondral Ossification
maintain bone matrix and form osteoblast after bone matrix Bone formation within cartilage model, which is replaced by
has surrounded it. Osteoclasts: contribute to bone repair and bone. Initially formed is primary ossification center, which is
remodeling by removing existing bone, called bone bone formation in the diaphysis of a long bone. A secondary
reabsorption. ossification is bone formation in the epiphysis. Steps:
Bone Formation 1. Chondroblasts build a cartilage model, the chondroblasts
Ossification is the formation of bone by osteoblasts. Bone become chondrocytes.
formation that occurs within connective tissue membranes is 2. Cartilage model calcifies (harden).
called intramembranous ossification. Bone formation that 3. Osteoblasts invade calcified cartilage and a primary
occurs inside hyaline cartilage is called endochondral ossification center forms diaphysis.
ossification. Both types of bone formation result in compact 4. Secondary ossification centers form epiphysis.
and spongy bone. 5. Original cartilage model is almost completely ossified and
remaining cartilage is articular cartilage.
Bone Growth in Width
Bone growth occurs by deposition of new bone lamellae onto
existing bone or other connective tissue. As osteoblasts
deposit new bone matrix on the surface of bones between
the periosteum and the existing bone matrix, the bone
increases in width or diameter. This process is called
appositional growth.
Bone Growth in Length
It is the major source of increased height in an individual
which occurs in the epiphyseal plate. This type of bone
growth occurs through endochondral ossification.
Chondrocytes increase in number on the epiphyseal side of
the epiphyseal plate. Chondroblasts then enlarge and die.
Cartilage matrix becomes calcified. Much of the cartilage that
forms around the enlarged cells is removed by osteoclasts,
and the dying chondrocytes are replaced by osteoblasts.
Bone Repair Bone Remodeling
1. Broken bone causes bleeding and a blood clot forms. Involves removal of existing bone by osteoclasts and
2. Callus forms, which is a fibrous network between 2 deposition of new bone by osteoblasts; occurs in all bones;
fragments. responsible for changes in bone shape, bone repair,
3. Cartilage model forms first, then osteoblasts enter adjustment of bone to stress, and; calcium ion regulation.
the callus and form cancellous bone and continues for
4-6 weeks after injury.
4. Cancellous bone is slowly remodeled to form
compact and cancellous bone.
Bone and Calcium Homeostasis
Bone is a major storage site for calcium. Movement of calcium
in and out of bone helps determine blood levels of calcium.
Calcium moves into bone as osteoblasts build new bone.
Calcium moves out of bone as osteoclasts break down bone.
Calcium homeostasis is maintained by parathyroid hormone
(PTH) and calcitonin. (Refer to figure 6.10 in 8th/10th ed book)
Bone Anatomical Terms
Foramen: hole; ex: foramen magnum
Fossa: depression; ex: glenoid fossa
Process: projection; ex: mastoid process
Axial Skeleton
Composed of the skull, vertebral column, and the thoracic
cage. The skull has 22 bones divided into those of the
braincase and those of the face. The braincase, which
encloses the cranial cavity, consists of 8 bones that
immediately surround and protect the brain. The bony
structure of the face has 14 facial bones.
