SCHOOL OF MEDICAL

LABORATORY SCIENCE HUMAN HISTOLOGY (LECTURE)

SAN PEDRO COLLEGE – MAIN
CAMPUS
Instructor’s Name: Dr. Vicheryl Lopez
AY 2022 – 2023 - 1ST SEMESTER LESSON NO.6

OUTLINE
I. Bone Histology: Introduction IV. Bone Membrane
A. Characteristics of A. Periosteum
Bone B. Endosteum
II. Major Bone Cells V. Types of Bone
A. Osteoblasts A. Lamellar Bone
B. Osteocytes B. Woven Bone
C. Osteoclasts VI. Bone
III. Bone Matrix Development/Osteogenesis Figure 1. Histologic view of Osteoblasts (pointed by red arrow)
A. Inorganic A. Intramembranous
Component Ossification ● Derived from osteoprogenitor cells.
B. Organic Component B. Endochondral → Osteoprogenitor cells - pluripotent stem cells derived from
Ossification the connective tissue mesenchyme.
● Forms bone matrix.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES ● Synthesize, secrete, and deposit osteoid.
→ Osteoid - The organic components of the new bone matrix,
1. To know the characteristics of the bone.
which include type I collagen fibers, several glycoproteins,
2. To identify and describe the organization of the
and proteoglycans.
extracellular matrix of the bone.
▪ Osteoid is initially uncalcified and does not contain any
3. To determine the location of the different bone cells
minerals. However, shortly after its deposition it is rapidly
and understand their role within the bone.
mineralized and becomes hard.
4. To compare and contrast the organization, location,
● Synthesize the enzyme alkaline phosphatase and initiate the
and function of the different types of bone and
process of mineralization.
demonstrate the functional advantage of each.
● Arranged as a layer of cuboidal to columnar cells on the
5. To understand the process of osteogenesis or bone
bone surface.
development
→ Osteoblasts line the surface of the bone.

I. BONE HISTOLOGY: INTRODUCTION B. OSTEOCYTES

A. CHARACTERISTICS OF BONE

● Similar to cartilage, bone is also a specialized connective

tissue.
● Consists of cells, connective tissue fibers, and extracellular
material.
● Mineral deposits in the bone matrix produce a hard structure for
protecting various organs.
→ Such as the brain in the skull, the heart and lungs in the
thorax, and the urinary and reproductive organs between the
pelvic bones.
Figure 2. Histologic view of Osteocytes (pointed by red arrow)
● Adult bones with red marrow function in hematopoiesis and as
a reservoir for calcium and minerals.
→ Hematopoiesis - blood cell formation.

II. MAJOR BONE CELLS

A. OSTEOBLASTS

Figure 3. Canaliculi (pointed by red arrow)

● Mature osteoblasts that become surrounded by mineralized

bone matrix.
● Located in lacunae, use canaliculi for communication and
exchange of metabolic products and nutrients.
→ Canaliculi - Tiny canals of system of channels.
● Principal cells of the bone.
● Most abundant bone cells.
● Maintains bone tissue.
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 SCHOOL OF MEDICAL
LABORATORY SCIENCE HUMAN HISTOLOGY (LECTURE)
SAN PEDRO COLLEGE – MAIN
CAMPUS
Instructor’s Name: Dr. Vicheryl Lopez
AY 2022 – 2023 - 1ST SEMESTER LESSON NO.6

● Maintain homeostasis of bone and blood concentrations of

calcium and phosphate.
→ Osteocytes no longer secrete osteoid. However, they
maintain their sensitivity to parathyroid hormone and vitamin
D and participate in calcium regulation.

C. OSTEOCLASTS

Figure 4. Histologic view of Osteoclasts (pointed by red arrow)

Figure 6 & 7. Bone Cells

Osteogenic Cell (Stem Cell)

● Also known as osteoprogenitor cell.
● Origin of osteocytes and osteoblasts.
→ Osteocytes and osteoblasts arise from this cell.

Figure 5. Howship’s lacunae.

● Large, multinucleated cells that originate by fusion of blood or

hematopoietic progenitor cells of the mononuclear
macrophage-monocyte cell line of the red bone marrow.
→ Osteoclasts are phagocytic cells.
● Found along the bone surfaces.
● Occupy shallow concavities called Howships lacunae. Figure 8. Different types of Bone Cells
● Responsible for resorption, remodeling, and bone repair.
→ Resorbs bone.

Figure 9. Three major Bone Cells

III. BONE MATRIX

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 SCHOOL OF MEDICAL
LABORATORY SCIENCE HUMAN HISTOLOGY (LECTURE)
SAN PEDRO COLLEGE – MAIN
CAMPUS
Instructor’s Name: Dr. Vicheryl Lopez
AY 2022 – 2023 - 1ST SEMESTER LESSON NO.6

Figure 11. Periosteum

Figure 10. Bone Matrix

A. INORGANIC COMPONENT
● Consists mostly of the minerals calcium and phosphate in the
form of hydroxyapatite crystals.
→ Mineral components resist compression.
● Calcium hydroxyapatite - most abundant Figure 12. Layers of Periosteum
● Association of coarse collagen fibers with hydroxyapatite
crystals provides the bone with its hardness, durability, and Outer fibrous layer (Peripheral)
strength. ● Dense connective tissue, containing mostly bundled type I
collagen.
B. ORGANIC COMPONENT → Also contains fibroblasts, blood vessels, nerves and
● 90% type I collagen fibers lymphatic vessels.
→ Organic components enables bones resist tension. ● Perforating fibers or Sharpey fibers - Bundles of periosteal
● Sulfated glycosaminoglycans and hyaluronic acid that form collagen that penetrate the bone matrix and bind the
larger proteoglycan aggregates. periosteum to the bone.
● Glycoproteins osteocalcin and osteopontin - bind tightly to
calcium crystals and promote mineralization and calcification Inner cellular layer (Osteogenic layer)
of bone matrix. ● Includes osteoblast, osteoprogenitor cells, and bone lining cells
● Sialoprotein - a protein that binds osteoblast to the
extracellular matrix.

IV. BONE MEMBRANE

● The external and internal surfaces of all bones are covered by
connective tissue of the periosteum and endosteum
respectively.
→ Both periosteum and endosteum are bone membranes.

A. PERIOSTEUM
● Similar to the perichondrium of the cartilage, it is organized into
an outer fibrous layer and an inner cellular layer.

Figure 13. Histologic appearance of the developing bone: Periosteum

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 SCHOOL OF MEDICAL
LABORATORY SCIENCE HUMAN HISTOLOGY (LECTURE)
SAN PEDRO COLLEGE – MAIN
CAMPUS
Instructor’s Name: Dr. Vicheryl Lopez
AY 2022 – 2023 - 1ST SEMESTER LESSON NO.6

Figure 17. Histologic view of Endosteum and Periosteum

Figure 14. Periosteal Sharpey’s Fibers
(B = Bone; P = Periosteum)
V. TYPES OF BONE
● There are the main types of bone; distribution and orientation
● The photomicrograph in Figure 14 shows the presence of three
of the collagen fibers in the bone matrix indicate the bone type.
periosteal Sharpey’s fibers or perforating fibers.
● Two types of bone:
→ Bundles of periodial collagen penetrating the bone matrix.
(1) Lamellar / Mature Bone / Secondary Bone
→ Bind the periosteum to the bone.
(a) Compact Bone
(b) Spongy / Cancellous / Trabecular Bone
B. ENDOSTEUM
(2) Woven / Immature / Primary Bone

A. LAMELLAR BONE
● Stronger than the woven or the immature bone.

Figure 15. Endosteum

Figure 18. Compact Bone and Spongy Bone

● The image on the left in Figure 18 shows that in long bones of

Figure 16. Histologic view of Endosteum
● Thin layer consisting of the single cellular layer.
● Covers small trabeculae of the bony matrix that project into
the marrow cavities.
● Covers the medullary cavity of all long bones.
● Contains osteogenic or osteoprogenitor cells, osteoblasts,
and bone lining cells, but within a sparse, delicate matrix of
collagen fibers.
the limbs the two types of mature bone namely the compact
bone and the spongy bone occur in both the knobby bulbous
ends called the epiphysis and in the intervening shaft called
the diaphysis.
● The image on the right shows the skull, a bone structure that
forms the head, which is composed of compact and spongy
bone (mature bones).
I. Compact Bone
● 80% of the total bone mass
● External in position
● Made up of solid bone matrix
● Based on the gross observation of the compact bone in Figure
19, it shows a dense area near the surface or external in
position.

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 SCHOOL OF MEDICAL
LABORATORY SCIENCE
SAN PEDRO COLLEGE – MAIN
CAMPUS
AY 2022 – 2023 - 1ST SEMESTER
Figure 19. Gross observation of Spongy and Compact Bone
Figure 20. Compact and Spongy Bone
Figure 21. Dry, Compact Bone: Transverse Section
● OSTEONS (HAVERSIAN SYSTEMS)
→ Structural units of a compact bone matrix
→ Contain lamellae, lacunae, osteocytes, canaliculi, and central
(Haversian) canals.
→ Each osteon consists of layers of concentric lamellae
around a central canal or Haversian canal.
● CENTRAL CANAL
→ Contains small blood vessels nerves and reticular connective
tissue.
● LAMELLAE
→ Thin plates of bone that contain osteocytes in
almond-shaped spaces called the lacunae.
● LACUNAE
→ In a living bone, the lacunae of each osteon house the
osteocytes.
● CANALICULI
→ Radiating from each lacuna in all directions.
→ Tiny channels or canals that penetrate the lamellae.
→ Anastomose with canaliculi from another lacuna and form a
network of communicating channels with other osteocytes.
BSMLS – 2G Team Writers: Cazar, Zwijgers
HUMAN HISTOLOGY (LECTURE)
Instructor’s Name: Dr. Vicheryl Lopez
LESSON NO.6
→ Functions as communication and exchange of metabolic
products and nutrients.
● INTERSTITIAL LAMELLAE
→ Small irregular areas of bone between osteons.
→ Represent the remnants of eroded or remodeled osteons.
● EXTERNAL CIMCUMFERENTIAL LAMELLAE
→ Form the external wall of the compact bone beneath the
periosteum.
→ Run parallel to each other and the long axis of the bone.
● INTERNAL CIRCUMFERENTIAL LAMELLAE
→ Lines the internal wall of the bone.
→ Osteons are located between the external and internal
circumferential lamellae.
● CEMENT LINE
→ The boundary between each osteon.
→ Refractile line of modified bone matrix.
● PERFORATING (VOLKMANN) CANAL
→ Anastomosis between central canals.
Figure 22. Dry, Compact Bone: Longitudinal Section
● In Figure 22, you can appreciate here the presence of central
canals or known as Haversian canals. They are seen in this
section as vertical tubes that show branching. These central
canals are surrounded by the lamellae with lacunae and
radiating canaliculi. The lamellae, lacunae, and osteon
boundaries cement lines that course parallel to the central
canals in the compact bone.
● There are also perforating or Volkmann canals that join the
central canals of osteons.
Figure 23. Dry, Compact Bone: An Osteon, Transverse Section.
● Located centrally is the central or haversian canal. This canal is
surrounded by the Lamellae. Between the adjacent osteons are
the interstitial lamellae. The dark almond shaped structures
between the lamellae are called the lacunae that house the
osteocytes in the living bone. The tiny canals from the individual
lacuna are the canaliculi. It radiates from the individual lacunae
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 SCHOOL OF MEDICAL
LABORATORY SCIENCE HUMAN HISTOLOGY (LECTURE)
SAN PEDRO COLLEGE – MAIN
CAMPUS
Instructor’s Name: Dr. Vicheryl Lopez
AY 2022 – 2023 - 1ST SEMESTER LESSON NO.6

to adjacent lacunae. It functions for communication and

exchange of metabolic products and nutrients. The refractile line
is the outer boundary of the osteon is called the cement line.

Figure 24. The haversian system.

● Again, located centrally is the central canal or haversian canal

that contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, nerves, fluid,
reticular connective tissue. Surrounding the haversian canal are
the concentric lamellae or the bone layers. These dark almond Figure 26. Compact bone and spongy bone.
structures between the lamellae are the lacunae which house
the osteocytes. The tiny channels or canals that radiate from
individual lacunae to adjacent lacunae are the canaliculi. These
are tiny canals that contain cytoplasmic processes of
osteocytes. The outer boundary of each osteon is the cement
line or cement layer.
● Osteon is the structural unit of the compact bone.

Figure 27. Cancellous Bone: Sternum, Transverse Section.

● Lining the bony trabeculae in the marrow cavities is a thin layer

Figure 25. Compact bone.
● Volkmann’s canal and Haversian canal are different. Haversian
canal is the central canal of an osteon that allows blood vessels,
lymphatic vessels, and nerves to travel along the osteon.
Volkmann’s canal is a transverse branch of Haversian canal that
interconnects Haversian canals with each other.
of endosteum. The bony trabeculae of the cancellous bone
merged with a thin layer of compact bone that contains the
osteon or haversian system. Again, the cancellous bone
consists of bony trabeculae that anastomose and ramify.
Between the bony trabeculae are the marrow cavities with blood
vessels and hematopoietic tissues that give rise to new blood
cells.

II. Spongy Bone (Cancellous or Trabecular Bone)

● Lamellar, mature bone
● Constitutes 20% of total bone mass.
● Lines internal to the compact bone, composed of branching
bony spicules or trabeculae
● Spaces between trabeculae are filled with red bone marrow
● Receive nutrition from blood vessels in the bone marrow
→ It is termed as trabecular bone because it is composed of
branching bony spicules or trabeculae. The spaces between
trabeculae are filled with red bone marrow. Cancellous bones Figure 28. Cancellous Bone: Sternum, Transverse Section.
receive nutrients from vessels in the bone marrow.

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 SCHOOL OF MEDICAL
LABORATORY SCIENCE HUMAN HISTOLOGY (LECTURE)
SAN PEDRO COLLEGE – MAIN
CAMPUS
Instructor’s Name: Dr. Vicheryl Lopez
AY 2022 – 2023 - 1ST SEMESTER LESSON NO.6

● These bony trabeculae are separated by the marrow cavity
containing blood vessels and hematopoietic cells.The
trabeculae are lined by the endosteum. It is a thin inner layer of
cells such as osteoprogenitor cells, osteoblast, the bone forming
cells. The multi-nucleated cells in the photo are known as the
osteoclast which are responsible for bone resorption. These
osteoclasts line in Howship’s lacunae. There are also numerous
osteocytes present in the lacunae.
→ Has lower mineral content and a higher proportion of
osteocytes.
→ Forms more quickly but has less strength.
● Seen during fetal bone development and bone repair
● Usually temporary and is replaced in adults by lamellar bone
except in a very few places in the body, for example, near the
sutures of the calvaria of the skull and the insertions of some
tendons.

Figure 29. Cancellous (Spongy) Bone (400x).

Between bony trabeculae are the marrow cavities that
contain blood vessels and hematopoietic cells or blood cells.
Lining the bony trabeculae in the marrow cavity is a thin layer
of cells called the endosteum.

Table 1. Compact Bone vs Spongy Bone. Figure 30. Woven bone.

PARAMETER COMPACT BONE SPONGY BONE
Table 2. Summary of bone types and their organizations.
SHAPE OF THE cylindrical harder cuboidal inner TYPE OF HISTOLOGICA MAJOR SYNONYMS
BONE outer layer of the porous, less dense, BONE L FEATURES LOCATIONS
bone osseous tissue
Woven bone, Irregular and Developing and Immature
ALTERNATIVE cortical bone cancellous or newly calcified random growing bones; bone; primary
NAMES trabecular bone arrangement of hard callus of bone; bundle
cells and bone fractures bone
COMPOSITION made up of osteons made up of collagen; lightly
trabeculae calcified

AMOUNT OF high amount of very low amount of Lamellar bone, Parallel All normal Mature bone;
CALCIUM calcium calcium remodeled bundles of regions of adult secondary
from woven collagen in thin bone bone
bone layers
CONTRIBUTION 80% of the weight of 20% of the weight of (lamellae), with
TO THE WEIGHT the skeleton the skeleton regularly
OF THE spaced cells
SKELETON between;
heavily
BONE MARROW contains yellow bone contains red bone calcified
marrow marrow
Compact bone, Parallel Thick, outer Cortical bone
LONG/SHORT forms major parts of forms major parts of 80% of all lamellae or region
BONES the long bones such the short bones such lamellar bone densely packed (beneath
as arms and legs as wrist and ankles osteons, with periosteum) of
interstitial bones
FUNCTION provides structural acts as a buffer for lamellae
support to the body compact bones
Cancellous Interconnected Inner legion of Spongy bone;
bone, 20% of thin spicules or bones, trabecular
all lamellar trabeculae adjacent to bone;
bone cover by marrow cavities medullary bone
B. WOVEN BONE endosteum
● Nonlamellar, has a random orientation of type I collagen
fibers

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 SCHOOL OF MEDICAL
LABORATORY SCIENCE HUMAN HISTOLOGY (LECTURE)
SAN PEDRO COLLEGE – MAIN
CAMPUS
Instructor’s Name: Dr. Vicheryl Lopez
AY 2022 – 2023 - 1ST SEMESTER LESSON NO.6

VI. BONE DEVELOPMENT/OSTEOGENESIS

A. INTRAMEMBRANOUS OSSIFICATION
● Osteoblasts differentiate directly from mesenchyme and begin
secreting osteoid.
● Mandible, maxilla, clavicle, and flat skull bones are formed
by this process
● Fontanelles in newborn skulls represent intramembranous
ossification in progress
→ The osteoblast differentiate directly from the mesenchyme
and begin secreting osteoid.

B. ENDOCHONDRAL OSSIFICATION
● Comes from the Greek word “endon” which means within and
“condros” which means cartilage.
● Bone formation takes place in pre-existing hyaline cartilage
→ The matrix of hyaline cartilage is eroded and invaded by
osteoblasts which begin osteoid production. Figure 31. Zone of reserve (label as 1 in the image).
● Forms most bones of the body (vertebral column, pelvis,
extremities) II. Proliferative Zone
● Well studied in developing long bones, where it consists of the ● Cartilage cells divide repeatedly, enlarge and secrete more
sequence of events type II collagen and proteoglycans
→ The bone develops by replacing the pre-existing hyaline ● Chondrocytes are organized into columns parallel to the long
cartilage to form the growing skeleton. axis of the bone

Figure 32. Proliferative zone (label as 2 in the image).

Figure 30. Diagram of intramembranous and endochondral ossification. III. Zone of Hypertrophy
● Chondrocytes in lacunae increase in size as a result of
I. Zone of Reserve (or Resting) Cartilage swelling of the nucleus and cytoplasm.
● Composed of typical hyaline cartilage ● When you say hypertrophy, there is an increase in size of the
● Shows chondrocytes in their lacunae distributed singly or in cells.
small groups or isogenous groups

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 SCHOOL OF MEDICAL
LABORATORY SCIENCE HUMAN HISTOLOGY (LECTURE)
SAN PEDRO COLLEGE – MAIN
CAMPUS
Instructor’s Name: Dr. Vicheryl Lopez
AY 2022 – 2023 - 1ST SEMESTER LESSON NO.6

Figure 33. Zone of hypertrophy (label as 3 in the image). Figure 35. Zone of ossification (label as 5 in the image).

IV. Zone of Calcified Cartilage

● Chondrocytes about to undergo apoptosis release matrix
vesicles and osteocalcin to begin matrix calcification by the
formation of hydroxyapatite crystals.
● Degenerate forming thin plates of calcified cartilage matrix.

Figure 36. Endochondral Ossification: Development of a Long Bone

● The upper part of hyaline cartilage is surrounded by

perichondrium. Zone of reserve cartilage shows chondrocytes in
the lacunae either singly or isogenous groups. Below this zone
is the zone of proliferating chondrocytes. It is termed as such
because the chondrocytes in this zone are divided and arranged
in vertical columns. Next is the zone of hypertrophy, the
chondrocytes in lacunae increase in size. It degenerates
forming a thin plate of calcified cartilage matrix or zone of
calcified cartilage. Below this region is the zone of ossification
where a bony material is deposited on the plate of calcified
Figure 34. Zone of calcified cartilage (label as 4 in the image).
cartilage matrix. The connective tissue around the newly formed
bone is the periosteum which is around the zone of ossification.
V. Zone of Ossification
● Bone tissue first appears
● Osteoblasts settle in a layer over the spicules of calcified
cartilage and secrete osteoid which becomes woven bone
● Woven bone is then remodeled as lamellar bone
● In the zone of ossification, bony material is deposited on the
plates of calcified cartilage matrix.

Figure 37. Endochondral ossification.

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 SCHOOL OF MEDICAL
LABORATORY SCIENCE HUMAN HISTOLOGY (LECTURE)
SAN PEDRO COLLEGE – MAIN
CAMPUS
Instructor’s Name: Dr. Vicheryl Lopez
AY 2022 – 2023 - 1ST SEMESTER LESSON NO.6

● Zone of reserve cartilage (resting cartilage)

→ Typical histology of resting hyaline cartilage
● Zone of cell proliferation (proliferative zone)
→ Chondrocytes multiplying and lining up in rows of small
flattened lacunae
● Zone of cell hypertrophy
→ Cessation of mitosis: enlargement of chondrocytes and
thinning of lacuna walls
● Zone of calcification (zone of calcified cartilage)
→ Temporary calcification of cartilage matrix between columns
and lacunae
● Zone of bone deposition (zone of ossification)
→ Breakdown of lacuna walls, leaving open channels: death of
chondrocytes: bone deposition by osteoblasts, forming
trabeculae of spongy bone.

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