The scapula, more commonly known as the shoulder blade, is a flat bone shaped much like a triangle. This bone attaches the arm bone to the bones of the ribs. Pain in this area of the body is quite common and can have several potential causes, the most common being excessive or strenuous physical activity. Scapula pain can also be caused by sleeping position or degenerative diseases such as arthritis.
Spongy (cancellous) bone is lighter and less dense than compact bone. Spongy bone consists of plates (trabeculae) and bars of bone adjacent to small, irregular cavities that contain red bone marrow. The canaliculi connect to the adjacent cavities, instead of a central haversian canal, to receive their blood supply.ompact bone consists of closely packed osteons or haversian systems. The osteon consists of a central canal called the osteonic (haversian) canal, which is surrounded by concentric rings (lamellae) of matrix. Between the rings of matrix, the bone cells (osteocytes) are located in spaces called lacunae.
After spongy bone is formed in the diaphysis, osteoclasts break down the newly formed bone to open up the medullary cavity. The cartilage in the epiphyses continues to grow so the developing bone increases in length. Later, usually after birth, secondary ossification centers form in the epiphyses.