Bone Healing and Repair

Effects of the bone healing process: Why avoid a prolonged period of bed-ridden inactivity?

Bedsores and if you stay in bed, you aren't exercising or working your bones which can cause them to weaken due to inactivity. Also, blood clots can form if you are inactive and it makes your circulation worse.

Osteoblasts

bone forming cells that deposit bony matrix

Osteocytes

mature bone cells embedded in lacunae

Changes a broken bone undergoes as it is healing

Hematoma formation (blood clot and inflammation) osteoclasts remove dead bone tissue, fibroblasts build fibrocartilages callus that bridges broken bone. Osteoblasts transform the callus into bone, remodeling occurs over months to regain strength and function.

Steps of Fracture Repair

1) Hematoma Formation 2) Fibrocartilaginous callus formation 3) Bony callus formation 4) Bone Remodeling 1) Hematoma - blood clot and inflammation 2) Osteoclasts remove dead bone tissue 3) Fibroblasts build a fibrocartilaginous callus that bridges broken bone 4) Osteoblasts transform the callus into bone 5) Remodeling occurs over months to regain strength and function

Osteoporosis

A condition in which bones become weak and brittle, Holes of the bone matrix and the spongy bone much larger. Bones weaken and then become easier to break and more prone to fractures. Most common in: - Femur - Vertebrae - Radius - Ulna - Pelvis

Osteoclasts

"cleaning cells" that reabsorb bone tissue during remodeling

How does weight-bearing influence the healing process of a broken bone?

When you bear weight on it, it puts stress on the muscles which will help make the bones stronger and more resilient.