Explanation

TYPES OF BONES: Bones of the skeleton can be grouped into the following major types: long, short, flat, and irregular. Each type has a somewhat different construction pattern. 1. Long Bones: The basic structure of a long bone is illustrated in figure 4-1. Example: femur. 2. Short Bones: The short bones, such as those of the wrist and feet, have a thin layer of compact bone surrounding an inner mass of spongy bone. Example: carpal bones. 3. Flat Bones: The flat bones are constructed with two plates of compact bone, which enclose between them a layer of spongy bone. The spongy bone is richly supplied with blood vessels and red marrow. Example: the cranial frontal bone. 4. Irregular Bones: The irregular bones are those that do not fit into the three categories above. Example: a vertebra.