BASIC STRUCTURE OF BONES - 1
Bone is a type of connective tissue composed of specialise resident cells derived from the mesenchyme and a hard extracellular matrix.
The bone matrix is quite unique becaused it has an organic component and a mineralized component.
Main features of the bone matrix:
Organic matrix - It contains predominantly type I collagen fibers, as well as proteoglycans, glycoproteins and several other molecules, some of which exclusive to or characteristic of bones.
Inorganic matrix - This matrix is calcified as a result of the deposition of calcium phosphate on the collagen fibrils forming crystals of hydroxyapatite which turn the bone into a hard tissue.
As collagen fibers stain well with eosin, its extracellular matrix appears pink in sections stained with H&E.
Histological sections of bones and teeth
Hard tissues require special methodologies to obtain histological sections. Click on the links to examine some of them Peparation of hard tissues – bone and teeth – 1 and Peparation of hard tissues – bone and teeth – 2