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Bone as Supporting Connective Tissue

Bone as Supporting Connective Tissue

Bone tissue forms the internal skeleton of vertebrate animals, providing structure to the body.
Bone Matrix
Bone, or osseous tissue, is a connective tissue that has a large amount of two different types of matrix material. The organic matrix is similar to the matrix material found in other connective tissues, including some amount of collagen and elastic fibers. This gives strength and flexibility to the tissue. The inorganic matrix consists of mineral salts— mostly calcium salts— that give the...

The Bone Matrix

The Bone Matrix

Bone contains a relatively small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of collagen fibers that provide an adherent surface for inorganic salt crystals. Both components of the matrix, organic and inorganic, contribute to the unusual properties of bone. Without collagen, bones would be brittle and shatter easily. Without mineral crystals, bones would flex and provide little support. This can be observed by an experiment: when the minerals of a bone are dissolved by soaking the bone in acid or...

Compact Bone

Compact Bone

Most bones contain compact and spongy osseous tissue, but their distribution and concentration vary based on the bone's overall function.
Compact bone, also called cortical bone, is the denser, stronger of the two types of bone tissue. It is found under the periosteum and in the diaphyses of long bones, where it provides support and protection. The microscopic structural unit of compact bone is called an osteon, or haversian system. Each osteon is composed of concentric rings of calcified...

Bone Remodeling

Bone Remodeling

Bone remodeling is a continuous and balanced process of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. In adults, it helps maintain bone mass and calcium homeostasis. While mechanical stress can stimulate turnover as part of the normal maintenance and reparative process, several hormones also regulate bone remodeling.

Spongy Bone

Spongy Bone

All bones comprise an outer layer of compact bone, and an interior made up of spongy bone tissue, also called cancellous or trabecular bone. In long bones, spongy bone tissue is mainly found in the interior of the epiphyses (broad ends of the bone).
Spongy bone is more porous, and less dense compared to compact bone. It is composed of concentric lamellae that are arranged irregularly to form the trabecular network. In some bones, the spaces between trabeculae contain red marrow, where...

Gross Anatomy of Bone

Gross Anatomy of Bone

The two main features of a long bone are the diaphysis and the epiphysis.
The diaphysis is the tubular shaft that runs between the proximal and distal ends of the bone. The walls of the diaphysis are composed of dense and hard compact bone made of numerous osteons — the functional unit of the compact bone. The hollow region in the diaphysis is called the medullary cavity, which harbors the bone marrow. In infants and children, this marrow cavity is filled with red marrow, whereas in adults, it...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Multimodal Approach to Assess Bone Regeneration and Scaffold Performance

Multimodal Approach to Assess Bone Regeneration and Scaffold Performance

Published on: February 13, 2026

Systems analysis of bone.

Karl J Jepsen¹

¹Leni and Peter W. May Department of Orthopaedics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029.

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Systems Biology and Medicine

|January 5, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding bone as a system reveals how genetic variants impact skeletal traits and function. This research explores phenotypic integration to identify genes regulating bone strength and improve skeletal health strategies.

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Area of Science:

Genetics and Skeletal Biology
Systems Biology
Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

Genetic variants influencing skeletal traits are known, but their functional impact remains unclear.
Bone exhibits phenotypic integration, where genetic variations in one trait cause compensatory changes in others.
Phenotypic integration is crucial for bone's mechanical functionality and structural integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

To review bone as a system, focusing on its functional properties.
To explore how understanding bone's system properties can identify novel genetic targets for bone strength.
To provide insights for assessing skeletal health and developing treatments for fragility fractures.

Main Methods:

Systems analysis of bone functionality.
Review of existing literature on genetic variants and phenotypic integration in bone.
Exploration of functional interactions among skeletal traits.

Main Results:

Genetic variants can affect bone function through complex interactions.
Phenotypic integration is a key property of bone, essential for mechanical adaptation.
A systems-level understanding is crucial for identifying genes regulating bone strength.

Conclusions:

A systems approach to bone biology is vital for uncovering gene functions and regulatory mechanisms.
This analysis offers new avenues for assessing skeletal health across the lifespan.
Insights gained can lead to improved therapeutic strategies for bone fragility.