Bone Structure

Bones provide the framework for the body and as such are load bearing structures.

Bone has a honeycomb structure

A close look at the inside of bone shows something like a honeycomb. When you have osteoporosis, the spaces in this honeycomb grow larger. And the bone that forms the honeycomb gets smaller. The outer shell of your bones also gets thinner. All of this loss makes your bones weaker making them more prone to getting fractures if you fall.

Types of bone structure

Bone tissue is of two types: compact and spongy.

Compact Bone

Compact or cortical bone has a porosity of between 5 and 10% and is found primarily in the shaft of long bones as shown in the diagram of a humerus (the long bone between the shoulder and elbow) below.

Spongy Bone

Spongy or Trabecular bone is less dense and full of spaces that contain the bone marrow.

Strength comes from the cross plates or trabeculae which may appear to be haphazardly arranged but are actually arranged to maximize structural strength.

Figure opposite taken from The Human Body: An Account of Its Structure and Activities and the Conditions of Its Healthy Working By Henry Newell Martin Published by H. Holt, 1906