11. Bone Function And Repair Flashcards
What is the mechanical function of Bone?
- Protect important and delicate tissues and organs
- Provide a framework for the overall shape of the human body
- Form the basis of levers involved in movement
What is the synthetic function of bone?
• Haemopoiesis (holds and protects red bone marrow)
What is the metabolic function of bone
Mineral storage (calcium and phosphorus)
• Fat storage (yellow bone marrow)
• Acid-base homeostasis (absorbs or releases alkaline salts to help regulate blood pH
What are the two types of ossification
Endochondral ossification
Intra-membranous ossification
Summarise endochondral ossification
- the formation of long bones from a cartilage template
- continued lengthening is by ossification at epiphyseal plates, e.g. appositional growth (growth at edges)
Summarise Intra-membranous ossification
- the formation of bone from clusters of MSC in the centre of bone – trabecular bone e.g. interstitial growth (growth in the middle)
• The process also contributes to the thickening (not the lengthening) of long bones, at their periosteal surfaces (appositional growth).
• This produces immature bone that undergoes remodelling into mature bone
• The bones of the skull are formed by intramembranous ossification
Describe the 9 stages of Intra-membranous ossification ossification
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) form a tight cluster
- The MSCs transform into osteoprogenitor cells and then transform into osteoblasts
- Osteoblasts lay down a osteoid (extracellular matrix containing Type I collagen)
- The osteoid mineralises (crystals of calcium form in and around it) to form rudimentary bone tissue spicules [surrounded by osteoblasts and containing osteocytes]
- The spicules join to form trabeculae, which merge to form woven bone
- Trabeculae replaced by the lamellae of mature compact bone
- Internal spongy bone remains
- Vascular tissue within trabecular spaces forms red marrow
- Osteoblasts remain on bone surface to remodel when needed
What is the main difference between endochondral and intra-membranous ossification?
Intramembranous ossification takes place within condensations of mesenchymal tissue and not by replacement of a pre-existing hyaline cartilage template
The process also contributes to the thickening (not the lengthening) of long bones, at their periosteal surfaces (appositional growth).
How can you tell the difference between immature and mature bone?
• Immature bone has osteocytes in random
arrangements
• Mature bone has osteocytes arranged in concentric lamellae of osteons
In which bone is the Haversian and Volkmann’s canals which carry blood vessels, lymph vessels and nerves found?
Compact bone
Why does bone resist fracture?
it has great tensile and compressive strength, a degree of flexibility
Where are the main force lines of bone?
Main force lines are through the cortical bone
(small cancellous bone component) • Why?
• lamellae are thought to be able to slip, relative to each other to resist fracture - excessive load causes fracture
What happens to thicken bone?
The osteon is remodelled
What is a key determinant of bone strength?
Exercise - increased exercise leads to increased osteon. Inactivity increases bone resorption (1/3 of mass lost when immobile)
What are the factors affection bone stability
- Activity of osteocytes (osteoid recycling)
- Activity of osteoblasts (bone deposition)
- Activity of osteoclasts (bone resorption)
How does Activity of osteocytes (osteoid recycling) affect bone stability?
- Can act like osteoblasts and lay down ‘scavenged’ osteoid into their lacunae (increased by oestrogen/thyroid hormone)
- Can act like osteoclasts and degrade bone (a little) – known as osteocyctic ostoelysis (increased by PTH)
What stimulates Activity of osteoblasts (bone deposition)?
Stimulated by calcitonin, GH (via IGF-1), oestrogen and testosterone (also by PTH), thyroid hormones, vitamin A