Osteon is another term for which bone structure?

• A. Haversian system
• B. Lamella
• C. Canaliculi
• D. Trabecula

Answer: (A)

The osteon is the cylindrical, functional unit of compact bone, also known as the Haversian system. It centers on a central Haversian canal that houses blood vessels and nerves, around which bone matrix is organized in concentric layers called lamellae. Between these lamellae lie osteocytes within lacunae, and tiny channels called canaliculi connect the osteocytes, allowing nutrients and waste to be exchanged. Multiple osteons run parallel to the bone’s long axis to give cortical bone its strength. The other terms refer to parts or different bone tissue styles: lamellae are the rings within the osteon, canaliculi are the small channels connecting osteocytes, and trabeculae form the latticework of cancellous (spongy) bone, not the cylindrical unit of compact bone.