Alveolar Bone

The human alveolar bone is very much similar to cementum. Histologically, two important bone types are compact bone and spongy bone. Compact bone is also called cortical bone whereas the spongy bone has many names such as woven, trabecular, or cancellous bone. Three types of layers are identified in the human alveolar bone which include circumferential, interstitial, and concentric. Compact bone forms the outer denser sheet of the alveolar bone. On the outer and inner circumference or perimeter of compact bone, osteoblasts contribute to the development of lamellae that are called circumferential or longitudinal lamellae. Adult bone is deposited in layers or lamellae. The bulk of compact bone is formed of circular layers known as concentric lamellae. Interstitial lamellae occupy the space between adjacent concentric lamellae. In living bone, osteocytic lacunae contain osteocytes and they are the most abundant cells within the bone.