ANAT2511 Bones and Joints

From Embryology
ANAT2511 Fundamentals of Anatomy This histology practical support page content is not part of the histology practical class and provides only background information for student self-directed learning purposes. Histology lecturer notice.


General Objective

To recognise bone in histological sections and understand its microscopic structure. To know the histology of a synovial joint and a symphysis joint (intervertebral disc) and the function of different tissues within the joints.


Reading: Human Anatomy, Marieb et al., 6th ed., pages 240‐260
Virtual Slides: Histology of Bone and Joints

The Skeleton

The body structure is formed by a series of bones, joints and cartilage, the bony part of the framework is called the skeleton.

Axial skeleton.jpg Appendicular skeleton.jpg Bone-femur-c.jpg
Axial skeleton
Appendicular skeleton (limb)
Femur (from the lower limb)

Bone Structure

Bone structure cartoon.jpg

Haversian System

Bone histology 101.jpg Bone histology 201.jpg

Individual bone forming cells (osteocytes) live in the spaces (lacunae) with the bone matrix surrounding a central blood vessel and nerve filled space (Haversian canal) that provides nutrition to these cells.

Vertebra and Intervertebral Disc

Ossification endochondral 1.jpg

Bone - Developing vertebra (bony collar) with newly formed bone matrix (red) surrounding mature bone forming cells (osteocytes) and with immature bone forming cells (osteoblasts) on the surface of the new bone.





Cartilage (blue) hyaline cartilage containing cartilage forming cells (chondrocytes) that are dying near bony collar (stacked large white spaces).

This cartilage formed the original template for where the bone will form and is gradually replaced, as these cells die, by bone formation (endochondral ossification).





Fibrocartilage forms a tough fibrous connective tissue (annulus fibrosus) around each Intervertebral disc that lies between 2 adjacent vertebra.


In the centre of each intervertebral disc is a jelly-like core (nucleus pulposus).


Course Links

Histology Glossary: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ANAT2241 Support | Histology | Histology Stains | Embryology Glossary

Virtual slides

Pages require student zpass to access.

ANAT2511 | Virtual Microscopy, Cells and Types of Tissue | Selected Basic Tissues | Histology of Bone and Joints | Histology of Muscle | Histology of Nervous Tissue | Integumentary System | Circulatory System Histology | Respiratory System Histology | GIT Histology | Urinary System Histology

Practical support

Pages can be accessed from any internet connected computer.

ANAT2511: Practical 1 Introduction to Histology | Practical 3 Basic Tissues | Practical 5 Bones and Joints | Practical 7 Muscle Tissue | Practical 9 Nervous Tissue | Practical 11 Integumentary (Skin) System | Practical 13 Circulatory System | Practical 15 Respiratory System | Practical 17 Gastro‐intestinal Tract, Liver and Gallbladder | Practical 19 Urinary System | Histology Drawings