COMPACT BONE — Which consist mainly of solid matrix (mineral matter)
and cells. The dense or compact portion of bones is made up of osteocytes,
blood vessels, lymph and lymph vessels. It is through canals in this portion of
the bone that nutrition and wastes are carried from bone cells. Compact bone
is found in long bones and the thinner surface of all other bones.
CANCELLOUS BONE — Which is more honeycomb (spongy), with small
marrow-filled spaces. Cancellous bone is located in the end (epiphyses) of
long bones and forms the center of all other bones. The honeycomb or
spongy look comes from interconnecting rods or plates of bone called
tradeculae.
BONE GROWTH AND REPAIR
Bone growth and repair takes place through hormone stimulation from the
thyroid/parathyroid glands. This is why when the thyroid becomes
underactive you develop bone/connective tissue weaknesses that affect all the
organs, glands, bones and the vascular system.
Ossification is a word used for the formation of bone by osteoblasts
(cells that become osteocytes or bone cells). There are two types of
ossification. Both types of ossification involve compact and cancellous bone.
INTRAMEMBRANOUS OSSIFICATION — Bone formation within
connective tissue.
ENDOCHONDRAL OSSIFICATION — Bone formation that takes place
inside cartilage.
When injury (or lifestyle) weakens bone cells, osteoclasts (bone-eating
cells) remove them, making room for osteoblasts to rebuild the bone or
cartilage.
The importance of an alkaline diet with proper glandular
(thyroid/parathyroid, pituitary, adrenal and pancreatic) function cannot be
overstressed. Acidosis stimulates osteoclasts and the formation of calcium
deposits. Calcium is ionized (hardened) in the presence of acids (anionic).
The regulation of ionic calcium in the body’s fluid is essential to the proper
growth and repair of bones. This, as previously stated, is greatly influenced
by diet, lifestyle, hormones and steroids.