Textbook Question
Classify the bones in the following diagram according to their shape.
d. _____
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6. Bones & Skeletal Tissue
Gross Anatomy of Bone: Short, Flat, and Irregular Bones
Multiple Choice
You are shown an image of a cross section of a bone. You decide it is likely a flat bone based on the structure. Without seeing the overall shape of the bone, how could you tell?
A
You see yellow marrow in the spaces within the bone.
B
There is no spongy bone present, only compact bone.
C
You see a long thin sandwich of compact and spongy bone.
D
The layer of spongy bone is at least twice the thickness of the compact bone.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the characteristics of flat bones: Flat bones typically have a structure that resembles a sandwich, with compact bone on the outside and spongy bone (also known as cancellous bone) on the inside.
Identify the presence of compact and spongy bone: In the cross section of a flat bone, you should see a layer of spongy bone sandwiched between two layers of compact bone.
Evaluate the thickness of the layers: In flat bones, the spongy bone layer is often thicker than the compact bone layers. Specifically, the spongy bone layer can be at least twice the thickness of the compact bone layers.
Look for the absence of yellow marrow: Flat bones typically do not contain yellow marrow, which is more commonly found in the medullary cavity of long bones.
Confirm the absence of only compact bone: If the cross section shows only compact bone without any spongy bone, it is unlikely to be a flat bone, as flat bones have both compact and spongy bone layers.
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