Bone donation
Bones in our body are living tissue made up of:
- minerals (especially calcium)
- vitamins
- proteins
The calcium gives your bone its strength and flexibility.
They also have their own blood vessels and living cells, which help the bones to, grow and repair themselves.
Major functions
- provide support for the body
- protect vital organs
- provide a place for the bone marrow
- storage area for minerals such as calcium
Types of bone tissue
- cortical (compact) bone - a hard, strong and dense outer layer
- trabecular (cancellous) bone – a spongy inner layer which is lighter and thinner than compact bone.
Bone cells
Your bone cells are responsible for bone production, maintenance and modelling:
Bone matrix
These are the intercellular substance of bone tissue. They include:
- collagen fibers
- ground substance, and
- inorganic bone salts
