Bone Growth and

Development
 Types of Bone Cells

• Osteoprogenitor
• Osteoblasts
• Osteocytes
• Osteoclasts
 Osteoprogenitor Cells
• The “Stem Cells” of bone
• Undifferentiated and have the potential to
become either:
• Osteoblasts
or
• Osteoclasts
(Both of which respond to the hormones PTH
and Calcitonin)
 Osteoblasts
• Single-nucleated cells that FACILITATE
MINERALIZATION
• Produce OSTEOID
• A liquid that crystallizes and eventually forms
the inorganic component of bone – the
MATRIX
• Once they are trapped within the matrix they
create and can no longer move, they either
DIE or BECOME OSTEOCYTES
 Osteocytes
• Cells that remain in LACUNAE
• Lacunae are just spaces that contain osteocytes
• Connected to each other via extensions of
cytoplasm referred to as CANALICULI,
which run perpendicular to HAVERSIAN
SYSTEMS
• If they are on the outer edge of a bone, they
flatten out and become bone lining cells
 Osteoclasts
• Large, Multi-nucleated cells that function to EAT
AWAY AT BONE
• Thought to break down the inorganic component by
producing acids
• Thought to break down the organic component by
producing enzymes
• Very effective and can “undo” the work of 100
osteoblasts
• Always associated with a blood supply
• Why?
– Because they are activated when there is too little calcium
circulating in the blood
 Bone Resorption

• The work of OSTEOCLASTS

• It is a NORMAL PROCESS – until it
becomes excessive, which is known as the
pathological condition, osteoporosis
 Bone
• Is a TISSUE
– It is a mixture of organic and inorganic
materials that form a living tissue
• Provides support and protection for the body
– A framework for the other systems of the body
• Provides attachment sites for muscles

• Dr. Sauer’s definition: Bone is a complex network of

cells and a neurovascular system embedded in a
highly structural protein/mineral matrix
 Bone
• Properties:
– Mineral component
– Organic component
– Growth centers
– Able to heal/regenerate
– Constantly changing
– Not expandable
– Hard/rigid (but microflexible)
– Impermeable (no diffusion through matrix)
 Parts of a Typical Long Bone
• DIAPHYSIS
– a.k.a. the SHAFT or PRIMARY CENTER OF
OSSIFICATION of the bone
• METAPHYSIS
– a.k.a. the area between the SHAFT and the
EPIPHYSIS
• EPIPHYSIS
– a.k.a. the SECONDARY CENTER OF
OSSIFICATION
 PHYSIS
• A PHYSIS (osteologically speaking) is an area
where there is bone growth actively taking
place

• Growth stops when the PHYSIS is obliterated

 Types of Bone

• SUBCHONDRAL
• CANCELLOUS
• COMPACT
 Subchondral Bone
• Only located beneath articular cartilage
• Extremely vascular
• No periosteum
 Cancellous Bone

• a.k.a. SPONGY bone

• TRABECULAR Bone (Lattice Structure)
• Type of bone in an infant/fetal skeleton
 Compact Bone
• a.k.a. Cortical Bone
• It is laid down in layers called LAMINA
• Also referred to as LAMINAR BONE
– Dense bone with collagen fibrils arranged in
layers; the fibrils change direction with each layer
making it very strong
• Associated with Haversian Systems
 Bone Growth
• APPOSITION
– The laying down of new material
• REMODELING
– Breakdown and replacement of old material
 Types of Bone Growth

• ENDOCHONDRAL
– “Within Cartilage”

• INTRAMEMBRANOUS
– “Between Membranes”
 Cartilage
• Any word that includes the base, “chondro,”
has something to do with cartilage
• Properties of Cartilage
– Rigid, but compressible
– Viscoelastic
– Avascular
– Expandable
– Cells are hydrophilic
– Does not regenerate
 Cartilage Growth
• APPOSITION
• WITHIN ITSELF (mitotic division)
• Grows three-dimensionally
• Because it is avascular, it does NOT repair
itself
 Endochondral Growth
This is how most of the bones in the body grow
and develop

• Stage 1:

– Starts with an ANLAGE

– An ANLAGE is just a cartilage model for bone
 Endochondral Growth
• Stage 2

– Older cartilage cells die and the matrix around

them ossifies
– This creates a place for bone to be laid down
 Endochondral Growth
• Blood vessels carrying osteoblasts break in and
begin to lay down PRIMARY SPONGIOSA
(TRABECULAE)
• Cells start creating a PERIOSTEUM and an
ENDOSTEUM
• These form a PERIOSTEAL COLLAR around the
center of the bone
*This is the PRIMARY CENTER OF OSSIFICATION
 Endochondral Growth
• Eventually…
• There is bone in the shaft and cartilage only at the
ends
• The process repeats itself at the ends of the bones
• These locations are the SECONDARY CENTERS
OF OSSIFICATION
– Also referred to as the EPIPHYSES
– Appear for different bones at different times during
people’s lives
• Development is complete when the cartilage between
the epiphysis and diaphysis is no longer there and the
parts unify to form a whole
 Metaphysis Closure
• We have discussed what happens as bone
growth occurs in the diaphysis and in the
epiphyses, but what happens in that area
between the two?

• Time for some more drawing…

 Intramembranous Growth

• “Between Membranes”
• Flat bones (like the parietals of the skull)
• Other bones of the skeleton once they develop
the PERIOSTEUM and ENDOSTEUM
 Intramembranous Growth:
The Process
• The PERIOSTEUM has a FIBROUS LAYER
and an OSTEOGENIC LAYER
• The osteogenic layer contains osteoblasts and
lays down new bone
• Typically…
– The PERIOSTEAL surface tends to be
DEPOSITIONAL
– The ENDOSTEAL surface tends to be RESORPTIVE
• As bone grows, it incorporates blood vessels
 Intramembranous Growth
• Occurs at the level of Cortical bone – this is after
lamellar bone has replaced the trabecular bone

• When new bone is produced by the osteogenic layer

of the periosteum, blood vessels are incorporated
– These are referred to as PRIMARY OSTEONS and are
NOT HAVERSIAN SYSTEMS
 Intramembranous Growth
• HAVERSIAN SYSTEMS are known as
SECONDARY OSTEONS
• They are formed within Lamellar bone
• They are responsible for remodeling the
lamellar bone, which makes it stronger and
replaces older bone with new bone
 Haversian Systems
• Recall OSTEOCLASTS
• Osteoclasts eat away a resorptive space
which creates space for OSTEOBLASTS to
lay down new bone
• This is all part of the BMU – Basic
Multicellular Unit
Now…
• It’s time to do some picture pages…time to get
your crayons and your pencils…
 Haversian Systems
• Functions
– Replacement
• Replace old cells and hydroxyapatite
– Strengthen Bone
• Bone is stronger when it is replaced
• Has to do with microflexibility – bone is rigid and hard,
but without some flexibility it would break easily.
Haversian systems can move independently of one another
and therefore allow the bone some flexibility.
– Fluid Pumps
• This is not well understood – it appears to be a shock
absorption property where pressure from weight and
movement force fluid to move between the cells
 Real-Life Application
• There are two reasons this is important to
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGISTS
– SPECIES IDENTIFICATION
• Many animals have PLEXIFORM bone
• Looks like bricks
• No Haversian Systems (or if they have Haversian
Systems, they are not configured like those of humans)
– AGE ESTIMATION
• Useful for Forensic and Archaeological Cases
• By examining the number of haversian systems relative
to the amount of primary osteons and lamellar bone that
remains, the Forensic Anthropologist can determine the
age of the individual