Week 7 — Readings & Resources · The Skeletal System: Bone Tissue & Structure

Course: Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 2301 + BIOL 2101) · Silver Oak University (fictional sample) · Prof. Navarro
Objective covered: Objective 4 — Functions & classification of bone; gross & microscopic bone anatomy; the bone cells; ossification, growth & remodeling (calcium homeostasis).

How to use this page

Everything here is a link to an external resource — open it in your browser, the same way you'd open a YouTube link. Nothing needs to be downloaded.

This week's load is deliberately light: 1 video + 2 short readings + 1 interactive atlas, grouped by the ideas from the lecture. Watch or read one item per group and you're ready for the quiz; do all of them and you'll be very comfortable. Total time is roughly 35–45 minutes if you do everything, far less if you pick one per group.

Order that matches the lecture: ① what bone does + the gross anatomy of a long bone → ② microscopic bone (the osteon, compact vs. spongy) + the bone cells → ③ growth, remodeling & calcium homeostasis.

A habit to start now: before you trust any A&P claim — in these resources, in a chatbot, or anywhere — ask the questions from class: Which cell builds bone and which breaks it down? Is that the diaphysis (shaft) or the epiphysis (end)? Is compact bone made of osteons or trabeculae?

① What Bone Does & the Anatomy of a Long Bone

Maps to Lecture Segments 2–3. Bone is living tissue with six jobs, and a long bone has a named gross anatomy — diaphysis, epiphysis, growth plate, periosteum, medullary cavity.

Video — "The Skeletal System" (CrashCourse Anatomy & Physiology)
🔗 Channel (find the Skeletal System episodes — #19 and #20): https://www.youtube.com/c/crashcourse
🔗 If you're new to the series, start with A&P #1 (Introduction): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBGl2BujkPQ
Why it earns the click: CrashCourse's energetic, plain-language tour of the skeletal system covers exactly our week — bone as living tissue, the functions of the skeleton, the structure of a long bone, and bone cells. Open the channel and search "CrashCourse Skeletal System" to pull up the two skeletal episodes.
⏱ ~10 min each

Reading — "Anatomy and Physiology 2e," Ch. 6 (§6.1 Functions & §6.2 Bone Classification + §6.3 Bone Structure) (OpenStax)
🔗 https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/6-introduction
Why it's assigned: the cleanest plain-language statement of what bones do, the four bone shapes, and the gross anatomy of a long bone (diaphysis, epiphysis, periosteum, medullary cavity) — a free online textbook page. Use the "Next" links to step from the Ch. 6 introduction into §6.1, §6.2, and §6.3.
⏱ ~12 min

② Microscopic Bone — the Osteon, Compact vs. Spongy & the Bone Cells

Maps to Lecture Segments 4–5. Compact bone is built from osteons (rings around a central canal) while spongy bone is a lattice of trabeculae — and three cell types (osteoblast, osteoclast, osteocyte) build, dissolve, and maintain it.

Reading — "Anatomy and Physiology 2e," §6.3 "Bone Structure" (OpenStax)
🔗 https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/6-3-bone-structure
Why it's assigned: walks through compact vs. spongy bone, the osteon (Haversian system, lamellae, central canal, lacunae, canaliculi), and the bone cells — osteoblasts (build), osteoclasts (resorb), osteocytes (maintain). This is the page to keep open during the quiz. Remember the hooks: osteoBlast Builds, osteoClast Chews.
⏱ ~12 min

Interactive — InnerBody "Skeletal System" Anatomy Explorer (free, no download)
🔗 https://www.innerbody.com/image/skelfov.html
Why it earns the click: a free, clickable illustrated guide to the skeleton with a clear write-up of the microscopic structure of bones (periosteum, compact bone with osteocytes, spongy bone with trabeculae and red marrow) and the parts of a long bone (diaphysis, epiphysis, medullary cavity). You'll use it in Lab 7 to identify structures; spend five minutes now getting comfortable navigating it.
⏱ ~5 min (browse)

③ Growth, Remodeling & Calcium Homeostasis

Maps to Lecture Segments 6–7. Bone forms from cartilage (endochondral ossification), lengthens at the growth plate, and is continuously remodeled — adapting to stress (Wolff's law) and serving as the body's calcium bank.

Reading — "Anatomy and Physiology 2e," §6.6 "Exercise, Nutrition, Hormones, and Bone Tissue" + §6.4 "Bone Formation and Development" (OpenStax)
🔗 https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/6-introduction
Why it's assigned: covers how bone forms and grows, how exercise and weightlessness change bone (the astronaut story from class), and how hormones regulate blood calcium (PTH raises it, calcitonin lowers it) — bone as a homeostasis story. Step into §6.4 and §6.6 from the Ch. 6 introduction using the "Next" links.
⏱ ~10 min

Optional one-stop references (free online)

• Khan Academy — Human Anatomy & Physiology. A free unit with short articles and videos covering the skeletal system, bone tissue, and bone remodeling. A good place to return to all term.
  🔗 https://www.khanacademy.org/science/health-and-medicine/human-anatomy-and-physiology
• GetBodySmart — interactive A&P tutorials (Skeletal System). Clean, labeled, interactive diagrams of the skeleton and bone structure; handy when you want to drill structure names.
  🔗 https://www.getbodysmart.com/skeletal-system/

Pick-one quick path (≈20 min total)

In a hurry? Do exactly these two and you'll be ready for the quiz:
1. Read OpenStax §6.3 "Bone Structure" (the osteon, compact vs. spongy, and the bone cells — the heart of the quiz).
2. Browse the InnerBody Skeletal System page's "Microscopic Structure" and "Parts of Bones" sections (lock in diaphysis/epiphysis and compact/spongy).

Heads-up (links rot): these point to outside sites that occasionally move or rename pages. If a link ever fails, tell Prof. Navarro and use the OpenStax Ch. 6 introduction or the Khan Academy reference above in the meantime.