Answer Key to Short Answer Questions for

“Look Out Below: A Case Study on Bone Tissue Structure and Repair”

1. Define the following terms, used in the case and also in associated questions:
a. hemorrhage
Hemorrhage: Bleeding or the abnormal flow of blood. Can be external
like in this case or internal

b. fracture
Fracture: break in the continuity of a bone’s structure

c. proximal
Proximal: a point of attachment of a limb closets to the trunk

d. diaphysis
Diaphysis: narrow elongated center portion of a long bone; the shaft

2. One way bones are classified is by their shape. How would you classify the bones
fractured by Mrs. Morgan?

Flat, long, short, and irregular are the classifications of bones based on their shape.
Mrs. Morgan’s humerus is a long bone, the occipital bone is flat, and vertebra is an
irregular bone.

3. The body of Mrs. Morgan’s vertebra is fractured. What type of bone tissue makes up
the majority of the vertebral body? Describe the structure and function of this type of
bone.

Most of the vertebral body is made up of spongy bone. The spongy bone is made up of
trabeculae (small beam) that have an open arrangement of osseous tissue, which helps
decrease the weight of bone. Additionally, spongy bone trabeculae align along stress
lines to prevent breakage.

4. The diaphysis of Mrs. Morgan’s humerus is fractured. What type of bone makes up
the majority of the diaphysis of long bones like the humerus? Describe the layers of
bone tissue found here.

The diaphysis of a long bone is made up almost entirely by compact bone. Compact
bone is made up of lamella (layers) that are named according to their shape or position
within compact bone.
• Concentric lamellae = circular shape; form the osteon
• Interstitial lamellae = located in between the osteons
 • Circumferential lamellae = located at the outer/inner surfaces of compact bone

5. Most connective tissue, including bone, is highly vascular. Which anatomical

structures in Mrs. Morgan’s compact bone house blood vessels? What sign or
symptom in Mrs. Morgan’s case is directly related to disruption of these structures by
her bone fractures? How is the sign or symptom related to these anatomical
structures?

The perforating and central canals house arteries and veins plus nerves in compact
bone. Mrs. Morgan is hemorrhaging as a result of her bones breaking. When bones
break the jagged ends of the bones can pierce the blood vessels within the bone
causing uncontrolled bleeding. Additionally the soft tissue (muscle, skin) surrounding
the bone can be damaged resulting in further blood loss.

6. Within days after a fracture, a “soft callus” of fibrocartilage forms. What fibers are
found in this type of cartilage? Identify the cells required for fibrocartilaginous callus
formation and list their functions.

Collagen fibers are found in high abundance in the fibrocartilage tissue matrix.
Fibroblasts = produce collagen fibers that bridge the gaps between fracture ends
Chondroblasts = secrete cartilage matrix

7. As a fracture is repaired, new bone is added to the injury site. What term is used to
describe the addition of new bone tissue? Identify which bone cell is responsible for
this process and explain how it occurs.

Bone deposition, mineral deposition, or ossification are terms used to describe the
process of adding new bone tissue to an injured or weak area. The cell that functions
in this process is the osteoblast. This bone cell secretes both type I collagen fibers and
osteoid ground substance via exocytosis. The osteoid ground substance will become
hardened (ossified) with the addition of calcium and phosphorous.

8. In the final stage of bone repair, some of the osseous tissue must be broken down and
removed. What term is used to define the breaking down of osseous tissue? Which
bone cell would be best suited for this task?

Bone or mineral resorbtion is the term used to describe dissolving away osseous tissue.
The osteoclast (bone breaker) secretes substances by exocytosis that dissolve the bone
matrix.
9. The extracellular matrix (ECM) of bone is considered to be a composite material
made up of organic and inorganic matter. What makes up the organic and inorganic
portions of the matrix? Describe the cellular mechanism involved in breaking down
this matrix; include the bone cell required for the process.

Collagen fibers, glycosaminoglycans, and glycoproteins are organic while

hydroxyapatite (crystallized calcium and phosphate) makes up most of the inorganic
portion.

Acid phosphates secreted by the osteoclast target the collagen fibers for destruction.
The osteoclast has hydrogen pumps present in high numbers on the ruffled border. As
hydrogen ions are pumped out they combine with chloride ions forming hydrochloric
acid (HCl). The acid acts directly on hydroxyapatite to liberate calcium. Additionally
HCL increases the solubility of calcium so it can be transferred back into the blood for
other uses.