1. Haversian System

2. Clopton Harvers Born in 1655 in England Studied at Cambridge
Both a Physician and an Anatomist
Practiced medicine in London for most of his life
Credited for his in-depth studies of the bones that ultimately led to the discovery of the 'Haversian canals' in them
Died in 1702

3. What exactly is a Harversian System?
Compact bone contains many cylinder-shaped structural units called osteons (Haversian systems)
Each osteon runs lengthwise through the bone
These Haversian systems makeup the structural framework of compact bone
The unique composition of the osteons allows for the delivery of nutrients and the removal of certain waste products produced from metabolically active bone cells

4. Composition of the Haversian System
Four types of structures make up each osteon (haversian system)
1. Lamellae
2. Lacunae
3. Canaliculi
4. Haversian Canal

5. Lamellae (la-MEL-ay)
Concentric, cylinder-shaped layers of calcified matrix

6. Lacunae (la-KYOO-nay)
Latin for “little lakes”
Small spaces containing tissue fluid in which bone cells lie imprisoned between the hard layers of the lamellae

7. Canaliculi (CAN-uh-LIK-you-lye)
Very tiny canals radiating in all directions from the lacunae and connecting them to each other and into the Haversian canal

8. Haversian Canal Extends lengthwise through the center of each osteon
Contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves from the Haversian canal
Nutrients and oxygen move through canalculi to the lacunae and their bone cells
Each Haversian canal is connected by tansverse Volkmann’s canals (contain nerves and vessels that carry blood and lymph to the osteons)