Osteon (Haversian system)
Definition
The basic structural unit of compact cortical bone: a central Haversian canal surrounded by concentric lamellae of mineralised collagen. Osteon diameter and canal size differ between mammalian orders and can be measured in cross-sections to contribute to taxon identification.
Related terms
- Articular surface
- The smooth cartilage-covered end of a long bone that forms a joint. Shape, curvature, and proportional dimensions of articular surfaces are primary...
- Avian pneumatic bone
- Bone in birds that is internally hollow or has air sac connections, substantially reducing skeletal mass for flight. The thin cortex and...
- Cortical bone histology
- Examination of thin sections of compact bone under transmitted and polarised light microscopy to characterise osteon structure, lamellation, and vascularisation pattern. Used...
- Osteometric discriminant analysis
- Multivariate statistical classification of an unidentified bone specimen based on a set of standardised measurements, using reference data from known-species museum collections...
- Phalangeal proportions
- The relative lengths and widths of the digit bones (phalanges). Used in bear paw identification, where species-specific phalangeal index ratios and claw...
Explained in
- Bone and Skeletal Element IdentificationThe basic structural unit of compact cortical bone: a central Haversian canal surrounded by concentric lamellae of mineralised collagen. Osteon diameter and ca...