TISSUE TYPES
2- COMPACT and SPONGY BONE TISSUES
Osteocytes and matrix can arrange themselves in
two very different patterns to form
compact bone tissue or
spongy bone tissue .
Compact (dense) bone tissue
consists of precise arrangements of microscopic cylindrical structures
called osteons.
The matrix and osteocytes of osteon are laid down in concentric rings
around a central (Haversian) canal that contains blood vessels and nerve.
If you look at compact bone tissue with naked eye, it look very dense: you cannot see
any cavities in it.
In contrast to compact bone tissue,
spongy (cancellous) bone consists of an irregular latticework of thin
blades of bone called trabeculae.
The spaces between the trabeculae contain blood vessels and red marrow which
produces blood cells.
The spaces between the trabeculae can be seen with naked eye and give spongy bone tissue
its "spongy" look.
