What is compact bone?

Compact bone, also called cortical bone, dense bone in which the bony matrix is solidly filled with organic ground substance and inorganic salts, leaving only tiny spaces (lacunae) that contain the osteocytes, or bone cells. read more

Compact bone is found on the outside of most bones in the body. The bones of the human skeleton can be grouped into five types: long, short, flat, irregular, and sesamoid. read more

Compact bone, as opposed to spongy bone, is made of cylindrical units, called osteons, that are tightly formed together. As compact bone grows, osteons begin to fuse together. In the center of the osteon is a central canal with blood vessels and nerve fibers. read more

Compact bone forms a shell around cancellous bone and is the primary component of the long bones of the arm and leg and other bones, where its greater strength and rigidity are needed. Mature compact bone is lamellar, or layered, in structure. read more

The compact noncancellous portion of bone that consists largely of concentric lamellar osteons and interstitial lamellae. compact substance The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. read more