The Haversian system is another name for which structural unit?

The Haversian system is another name for which structural unit?

• A. Osteon
• B. Lamellae
• C. Canaliculi
• D. Lacunae

Answer: (A)

The Haversian system is the osteon, the basic structural unit of compact bone. An osteon centers on a central canal that houses blood vessels and nerves, and it is surrounded by concentric rings of mineralized bone matrix called lamellae. Within those lamellae lie tiny spaces called lacunae that hold osteocytes, which connect to each other through small channels called canaliculi. Several osteons run parallel to give the dense, compact bone its strength. The other terms—lamellae, canaliculi, and lacunae—are components inside an osteon, not the unit itself.

The Haversian system is the osteon, the basic structural unit of compact bone. An osteon centers on a central canal that houses blood vessels and nerves, and it is surrounded by concentric rings of mineralized bone matrix called lamellae. Within those lamellae lie tiny spaces called lacunae that hold osteocytes, which connect to each other through small channels called canaliculi. Several osteons run parallel to give the dense, compact bone its strength. The other terms—lamellae, canaliculi, and lacunae—are components inside an osteon, not the unit itself.