Skeletal System Overview - Bone Composition

Objectives
  1. Identify the cellular components of bone.
  2. Identify the acellular components of bone.

Click on each thumbnail to view detailed image
Click on each label to view definition
THE BONE
Bone Formation Extracellular matrix - mixture of collagen fibers and ground substance including the inorganic mineral hydroxyapatite (crystals including calcium, phosphate and hydroxide).  The collagen fibers provide bone with some flexibility; the minerals provide strength and hardness. Osteoblasts - bone cells originating from osteoprogenitor stem cells.  These cells deposit bony matrix. Osteoclasts - cells formed from the fusion of several stem cells involved in the dissolving of bone, helping with the reshaping of bone when necessary. Osteocytes - mature bone cells that are completely surrounded by bony matrix that they maintain.
OSTEOBLASTS
Osteoblasts
OSTEOCYTES
Osteocyte
OSTEOCLASTS
Osteoclast

Bone consists of cellular and extracellular components.

Cellular components  
Stem cells known as osteoprogenitor or osteogenic cells give rise to immature bone cells called osteoblasts. The osteoblasts deposit bony matrix and once surrounded by that matrix, they are known as osteocytes

Extracellular components
The bone cells are surrounded by extracellular matrix composed of collagen fibers and ground substance including calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate.