Spongy lamellar bone (4x objective lens)


This image of decalcified bone shows a part of the marrow cavity of a bone, containing interconnected trabeculae of spongy (cancellous) lamellar bone surrounded by yellow bone marrow, composed of white adipose cells. Numerous trabeculae of various thickness are linked together in a network. One of the thicker trabeculae contains an Haversian system (osteon), necessary to bring blood vessels into the trabecula to supply the metabolic needs of the osteocytes where the trabecula is too thick to rely on diffusion from the marrow cavity. The other trabeculae are thin enough for gasses and metabolites to diffuse to and from the cells via canaliculi that connect the lacunae to each other and to the surface of the trabecula.

Stain = H&E.


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| Copyright by: Paul B. Bell, Jr. & Barbara Safiejko-Mroczka |

The University of Oklahoma

Version: 001206