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How does woven bone differ from lamellar bone?
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bone
A long bone of the human body, showing a magnified cross section of the interior.
The primary difference between woven and lamellar bone lies in the organization of their internal structures, specifically the arrangement of collagen bundles and osteocytes.1
- Woven Bone: This is considered immature bone. It is characterized by a random orientation of both collagen bundles and the long axes of osteocytes.12
- Lamellar Bone: This is mature bone. It is organized into clear, alternating layers where both the fibrils and osteocytes are aligned. In these layers, the primary direction of the fibrils typically shifts by approximately 90 degrees every few micrometers.1
In many mammals, lamellar bone is further organized into osteons, which are concentric cylindrical structures that facilitate the passage of blood vessels. During the process of bone remodeling, the body converts immature woven bone into mature lamellar bone to maintain skeletal structure and support growth.12