SPONGY BONE Meaning and
Definition
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Spongy bone, also known as trabecular bone or cancellous bone, is one of the two types of bone tissue found in the human body, with the other being compact bone. The term "spongy" refers to the characteristic appearance of this type of bone, which appears sponge-like or honeycomb-like under a microscope due to its numerous interconnected spaces.
Spongy bone is primarily found at the ends of long bones and in the core of vertebrae, where it forms an internal lattice-like structure. It consists of a network of thin bony plates called trabeculae, which are organized in a way that maximizes strength while minimizing weight. These trabeculae contain irregularly shaped spaces filled with bone marrow.
Compared to compact bone, spongy bone has a higher proportion of open spaces, allowing for greater flexibility and resilience. It also plays a crucial role in bone metabolism, as it contains red bone marrow responsible for the production of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
The presence of spongy bone contributes to the structural integrity of bones and helps distribute forces applied to the skeleton during movements. It also serves as a reservoir for essential minerals like calcium and phosphate, which can be released into the bloodstream when needed for important bodily functions.
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(1) Cancellous bone; (2) one of the turbinated bones.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SPONGY BONE
- apongy bone
- zpongy bone
- xpongy bone
- dpongy bone
- epongy bone
- wpongy bone
- soongy bone
- slongy bone
- s-ongy bone
- s0ongy bone
- spingy bone
- spkngy bone
- splngy bone
- sppngy bone
- sp0ngy bone
- sp9ngy bone
- spobgy bone
- spomgy bone
- spojgy bone
- spohgy bone
Etymology of SPONGY BONE
The etymology of the word "spongy bone" can be broken down as follows:
1. Spongy: The word "spongy" can be traced back to the Old English word "spong", which means "a sponge". The adjective form "spongy" was formed by adding the "-y" suffix, which denotes "resembling" or "full of". Therefore, "spongy" means "resembling or full of sponge".
2. Bone: The word "bone" comes from the Old English word "ban", deriving from the Proto-Germanic word "bainam". This word ultimately originated from the Proto-Indo-European root "*os-", meaning "bone" or "leg".
When combined, "spongy bone" refers to the porous, honeycomb-like bone tissue found within the interior of bones.
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