Textbook Question
The disorder in which bones are porous and thin but bone composition is normal is
a. Osteomalacia
b. Osteoporosis
c. Paget's disease
Ch. 6 Bones and Skeletal Tissues
Marieb, Hoehn7th EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780805359091
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 The Human Body: An Orientation24
- Ch. 2 Chemistry Comes Alive25
- Ch. 3 Cells: The Living Units24
- Ch. 4 Tissue: The Living Fabric19
- Ch. 5 The Integumentary System10
- Ch. 6 Bones and Skeletal Tissues19
- Ch. 7 The Skeleton11
- Ch. 8 Joints7
- Ch. 9 Muscles and Muscle Tissue26
- Ch. 10 The Muscular System26
- Ch. 11 Fundamentals of the Nervous System and Nervous Tissue23
- Ch. 12 The Central Nervous System26
- Ch. 13 The Peripheral Nervous System and Reflex Activity28
- Ch. 14 The Autonomic Nervous System18
- Ch. 16 The Endocrine System26
- Ch. 17 Blood27
- Ch. 18 The Cardiovascular System: The Heart22
- Ch. 19 The Cardiovascular System: Blood Vessels27
- Ch. 20 The Lymphatic System and Lymphoid Organs and Tissues16
- Ch. 21 The Immune System: Innate and Adaptive Body Defenses29
- Ch. 22 The Respiratory System20
- Ch. 23 The Digestive System30
- Ch. 24 Nutrition, Metabolism, and Energy Balance26
- Ch. 25 The Urinary System25
- Ch. 26 Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance24
- Ch. 27 The Reproductive System23
Marieb, Hoehn7th EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780805359091Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 6, Problem 12
Osteocytes residing in lacunae of osteons of healthy compact bone are located quite a distance from the blood vessels in the central canals, yet they are well nourished. How can this be explained?
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Understand the structure of compact bone, focusing on osteons, which are cylindrical units containing a central canal with blood vessels surrounded by concentric lamellae of bone matrix.
Recognize that osteocytes reside in small spaces called lacunae, which are located between the lamellae and are not directly adjacent to blood vessels.
Identify the presence of tiny channels called canaliculi that radiate from each lacuna and connect osteocytes to each other and to the central canal.
Explain that through these canaliculi, osteocytes extend cytoplasmic processes that allow the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products by diffusion from the blood vessels in the central canal.
Conclude that this network of canaliculi enables osteocytes to remain well nourished despite their distance from the blood vessels, maintaining bone health and function.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Structure of Osteons
Osteons are the fundamental functional units of compact bone, consisting of concentric lamellae surrounding a central canal that contains blood vessels. Osteocytes reside in small spaces called lacunae between the lamellae, which are interconnected by tiny channels called canaliculi.
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Osteon
Role of Canaliculi in Nutrient Transport
Canaliculi are microscopic canals that connect lacunae to each other and to the central canal. They allow the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products between osteocytes and blood vessels, enabling cells far from the central canal to remain nourished despite the distance.
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02:37Active Transport
Cellular Communication and Bone Maintenance
Osteocytes communicate through their cytoplasmic extensions within canaliculi, facilitating the transfer of signals and nutrients. This network supports bone maintenance and remodeling by ensuring that even distant osteocytes receive essential substances from the blood supply.
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2:59Map of the Lesson on Cell Communication
Related Practice
Textbook Question
A bone with approximately the same width, length, and height is most likely:
a. A long bone
b. A short bone
c. A flat bone
d. An irregular bone
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Textbook Question
Describe the process of new bone formation in an adult bone. Use the terms "osteoid seam" and "calcification front" in your discussion.
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Textbook Question
a. Why are fractures most common in elderly individuals?
b. Why are greenstick fractures most common in children?
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Textbook Question
Describe in proper sequence the events of endochondral ossification in a long bone.
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Textbook Question
As we grow, our long bones increase in diameter, but the thickness of the compact bone of the shaft remains relatively constant. Explain this phenomenon.
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