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Why Do Bones Have Lacunae?

Sophia Al-Mansoor • • 6 min read
Why Do Bones Have Lacunae?

Lacunae – Function
The primary function of lacuna in bone or cartilage is to provide housing to the cells it contains and keeps the enclosed cells alive and functional. In bones, lacunae encase osteocytes
osteocytes
An osteocyte, an oblate shaped type of bone cell with dendritic processes, is the most commonly found cell in mature bone tissue, and can live as long as the organism itself. The adult human body has about 42 billion of them.
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; in cartilage, lacunae enclose chondrocytes.

What bone contains lacunae?

Compact Bone

Between the rings of matrix, the bone cells (osteocytes) are located in spaces called lacunae. Small channels (canaliculi) radiate from the lacunae to the osteonic (haversian) canal to provide passageways through the hard matrix.

What is the function of the lacunae in compact bone?

Osteocytes are found in lacunae, which are the cell-shaped empty spaces that prevent the solid, mineralized extracellular material of bone from crushing the osteocytes.

Sophia Al-Mansoor
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Sophia Al-Mansoor

Sophia analyzes international trade, startup ecosystems, retail transformation, and supply chain logistics for modern digital publications.