Macroscopic Organization of Bone

This is a cross-section of a long bone. At the outer regions of the section, you can see a dense, thick layer of compact bone. The inner portion of the bone is composed of trabecular bone and the intervening bone marrow. Muscle attachments are visible along the outer surface. What are the functional differences between compact and trabecular bone?

Answer: Compact bone is hard and dense and serves a mechanical function. Trabecular bone is porous and contains bone marrow.