Description
The artistic piece illustrates the appearance of an osteon (Haversian system) in 3D. The osteon is the unit or building brick of compact bone tissue and consists of a column of bone with layered subunits called lamellae. In this artistic rendering the inner most lamella has been pulled upward, dragging and stretching the sequential lamellae so as to display the morphology of all the lamellae in the osteon. The lamellae consist of calcium, phosphate, and hydroxyl ions which form a compound called hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3(OH) – seen in first image on the left as shades of white and gray overlay. The hydroxyapatite gives bone its hardness. The lamella also contains type I collagen fibers. (color overlay of reds and pinks ). Adjacent lamellae are arranged in different directions so that a zig zag pattern of the collagen is created allowing for strengthening of the tissue. The Haversian canal is the space seen on the top and in the middle of the osteon that contains artery, vein and nerve (all images).
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Related products: arteries, bones, blood supply, bonds and connections, parts, tissues, veins