The structure at the arrow is made of which components?

The structure at the arrow is made of which components?

• A. Calcium salts
• B. Osteocytes
• C. Collagen
• D. All of the answers are correct

Answer: (D)

Bone tissue is a composite made of organic and inorganic materials plus embedded cells. The organic part is collagen, which forms a flexible scaffold. The inorganic part is calcium salts (hydroxyapatite) that crystallize in the collagen matrix to give hardness and strength. Osteocytes are the mature bone cells housed within lacunae in this mineralized matrix and they help maintain and regulate the tissue. So the structure shown contains the mineral, the organic matrix, and the resident cells, making all of the above correct.

Bone tissue is a composite made of organic and inorganic materials plus embedded cells. The organic part is collagen, which forms a flexible scaffold. The inorganic part is calcium salts (hydroxyapatite) that crystallize in the collagen matrix to give hardness and strength. Osteocytes are the mature bone cells housed within lacunae in this mineralized matrix and they help maintain and regulate the tissue. So the structure shown contains the mineral, the organic matrix, and the resident cells, making all of the above correct.