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If spongy bone has no osteons, how do nutrients reach the osteocytes?
6. Bones & Skeletal Tissue
Gross Anatomy of Bone: Compact and Spongy Bone
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Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
Osteocytes maintain contact with the blood vessels of the central canal through __________.
A
concentric lamellae
B
canaliculi
C
interstitial lamellae
D
the periosteum
E
perforating canal
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the structure of an osteon, which is the fundamental functional unit of compact bone.
Recognize that osteocytes are mature bone cells that reside in small cavities called lacunae within the bone matrix.
Identify that osteocytes maintain communication and nutrient exchange through tiny channels called canaliculi.
Note that canaliculi connect the lacunae to each other and to the central canal, which contains blood vessels and nerves.
Conclude that the correct structure through which osteocytes maintain contact with the blood vessels of the central canal is the canaliculi.
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