Which term describes hard, dense bone tissue located just beneath the periosteum?

Which term describes hard, dense bone tissue located just beneath the periosteum?

• A. Spongy bone
• B. Compact bone
• C. Cancellous bone
• D. Trabecular bone

Answer: (B)

Hard, dense bone tissue just beneath the periosteum is compact bone, also called cortical bone. This outer shell forms a rigid, tightly packed layer that gives bones their strength and ability to bear loads. It’s organized into osteons with concentric lamellae around a central Haversian canal, which carries blood vessels and nerves. Spongy (cancellous) bone, by contrast, is porous and lighter, found mainly at the ends of long bones and inside flat bones, with a network of trabeculae. So the dense outer layer under the periosteum is compact (cortical) bone.

Hard, dense bone tissue just beneath the periosteum is compact bone, also called cortical bone. This outer shell forms a rigid, tightly packed layer that gives bones their strength and ability to bear loads. It’s organized into osteons with concentric lamellae around a central Haversian canal, which carries blood vessels and nerves. Spongy (cancellous) bone, by contrast, is porous and lighter, found mainly at the ends of long bones and inside flat bones, with a network of trabeculae. So the dense outer layer under the periosteum is compact (cortical) bone.