Name ______Period ______Class ______
Lab: Bone Structure
Activity 1: Examining and Classifying Bones
1. Bones are classified by shape into four groups: long, short, flat, and irregular. Which of these four categories has the least amount of spongy bone relative to its total volume? ______
2. Examine the seven intact bones (numbered #1-8). Then classify each of the bones by shape and record its number in the table below.
Long Bone / Short Bone / Flat Bone / Irregular Bone3. Match the bone markings with the appropriate description. Refer to p. 134 if needed.
a. _____ Rounded, convex projection
b. _____ Opening through a bone
c. _____ Air-filled cavity
d. _____ Any type of bony projection
1. Condyle
2. Foramen
3. Process
4. Sinus
Activity 2: Examining a Long Bone
1. Identify each of the following structures in the cleaned dry bone that has been cut in half:
compact bone
diaphysis
epiphysis
medullary cavity
spongy bone
trabeculae
2. Use the terms below to identify the structures marked by leader lines and brackets in the diagrams (some terms are used more than once). Note: Do not label the arrows!
Terms:
articular cartilage
compact bone
diaphysis
epiphyseal line
epiphysis
medullary cavity
periosteum
trabeculae
yellow marrow
3. Match the terms with the appropriate description.
a. _____ Site of spongy bone in the adult
b. _____ Site of compact bone in the adult
c. _____ Fibrous membrane that covers the bone
d. _____ Site of hematopoiesis in the adult
e. _____ Scientific name for bone shaft
f. _____ Site of fat storage in the adult
1. Diaphysis
2. Epiphysis
3. Medullary cavity
4. Periosteum
4. Describe the differences between compact bone and spongy bone that can be seen with the naked eye.
Activity 3: Examining the Microscopic Structure of Compact Bone
1. Examine the prepared slide of compact bone under high power. Compact bone is riddled with passageways carrying blood vessels and nerves that provide the living bone cells with needed substances and a way to eliminate wastes. First, focus on a central canal. What two structures pass through the central canal? ______& ______
2. Next, identify the lacunae where the osteocytes are found in living bone. These are arranged in concentric circles (lamellae) around the central canal. A central canal and all the lamellae surrounding it are referred to as an osteon. Also identify the canaliculi, tiny canals running from a central canal to the lacunae of the first lamella and then from lamella to lamella.
What is the function of the canaliculi?
3. On the photomicrograph of bone (280x) below, identify the structures from the list that are marked by leader lines. Then draw a bracket around and label an osteon.
Terms:
canaliculi
central canal
ECM
lacuna
lamellae (2)
4. Match the terms with the appropriate description.
a. _____ Layers of calcified matrix
b. _____ “Residences” of osteocytes
c. _____ Longitudinal canal, carries blood vessels & nerves
d. _____ Mature bone cells that secreted bone’s ECM
e. _____ Nonliving, structural part of bone
f. _____ Tiny canals, connecting lacunae
1. Canaliculi
2. Central canal
3. ECM
4. Lacunae
5. Lamellae
6. Osteocyte
Activity 4: Examining the Microscopic Structure of Spongy Bone
1. Examine the prepared slide of spongy bone under high power. Spongy bone has a spiky, open-work appearance, due to the arrangement of the trabeculae that compose it. Focus on a trabecula.
2. Based on your observations, determine if each of the following structures is found in compact bone, spongy bone, or both types of bone tissue by writing C, S, or B on the line provided:
a. _____ Canaliculi
b. _____ Central canal
c. _____ Extracellular matrix
d. _____ Lacuna
e. _____ Lamella
f. _____ Osteocyte
g. _____ Osteon
h. _____ Trabeculae
3. Now focus on the red marrow that fills the spaces between the trabeculae. What is the function of this tissue? Use the fancy name & explain what it means!!!
Activity 5: The Chemical Composition of Bone
1. The extracellular matrix of bone is made of two components: ______& ______
2. Describe the properties of each component of bone’s ECM.
3. Observe a chicken bone that has been soaked in vinegar and one that has been baked. Heating destroys the collagen fibers in the bone matrix, and acid (vinegar) dissolves out the calcium salts.
4. Gently apply pressure to the heated bone sample. What happens and why?
5. Gently apply pressure to the vinegar-soaked bone sample. What happens and why?