Is compact bone living? I know Spongy bone is?

Question

I am looking into my Anatomy & Physiology book and when I read I am thorough, my book does not have anywhere in it stating that compact bone is alive. I might have answered my own question. This is not a HW question I am just curious. I will select a five star best answer and please provide sources. no rush like I said this is not HW. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi. Yes, cortical ('compact') bone is living. All bone is living, and thus it is very vascularised. Have a look at the picture on this wiki page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortical_bone

You can see the arteries in the osteon's (Haversian canals). It would not be vascularised if it was not living. Of course, only the cells in the bone are actually living (in both kinds of bone), ie the osteoblasts/clasts/cytes. The matrix is not alive, in the same way that the keratin on our skin is not alive, although it is changed and supported by the osteoblasts/cytes.

This also supports me:

http://www.kidzworld.com/article/922-dem-bones

It says "They aren't just some solid material like metal, they are alive with cells."

Hope this helps

Ashley

Answer 2

I think you have some better answers, but Yes, bone is living material. It grows, reproduces itself cell wise, feeds on the materials brought by blood, responds to environmental changes in your body like disease (arthritis, etc.). It does not live independent of the body unless in the same conditions as the body represents (experiments). Your body is a construction of living materials. Parts can die, and/or repair themselves if not damaged too much. Bone that is spongy, compact, or even badly attenuated by injuries such as a friend of mine suffered. I won't repeat what the others said, as it was all correct.

Answer 3

Osteoblasts - cells that produce bone matter, eventually become -> Osteocytes - mature bone cells (involved in communication, bone development) Osteoclasts - cells involved in bone resorption (breaking down bone) Osteoblasts are essential in bone strength, and their activity is determined by stress placed on the bone. Low-stressed bone areas are resorped by osteoclasts, and this involves the bone's calcium being released into the blood.