Bone is the other specialized connective tissue in which extracellular specializations for support are maximal within the limits required for development and remodeling. There are two types of bone development:

• Intramembranous ossification gives rise to membrane bones, these being the flat bones of the skull and parts of the mandible.
  • This process involves the deposition of bone matrix (osteoid) directly in regions ("membranes") of embryonic mesenchyme.

• Bones of the extremities, pelvis and vertebral column (cartilage bones) are formed by endochondral ossification.
  • This process involves the replacement of a hyaline cartilage model with bone. Regardless of the ossification process, the histological structure of the bone is the same.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the two mechanisms of bone formation, their differences and similarities.
• Recognize the appearances and significance of the various zones present in a bone.
• Recognize and know the functional significance of the parts comprising a synovial joint
   

Let's look at some examples.