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
- The dense outer shell of long bones, also called compact bone. Porosity is less than 10 percent. High mineral density, slow water...
- 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...
- Hydroxyapatite
- The calcium phosphate mineral (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) that constitutes approximately 70 percent of bone dry weight. Its crystals bind to DNA fragments electrostatically, slowing...
- Inhibitor Removal
- Laboratory steps applied to degraded bone before PCR amplification. Collagen hydrolysis products, humic acids, and heavy metals in aged bone inhibit DNA...
- 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...
- Stable Isotope Analysis
- A technique that measures the ratio of stable (non-radioactive) isotopes of elements such as strontium, oxygen, and carbon in a biological sample....
- Trabecular Bone
- The spongy inner lattice of bone, found at epiphyses and in flat bones. Porosity of 50 to 90 percent allows rapid water...
Explained in these topics
- 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...
- Bone Biology and Forensic SignificanceThe basic structural unit of cortical bone: a central Haversian canal carrying blood vessels, surrounded by concentric layers (lamellae) of mineralised collage...