Cortical vs. Cancellous Bone: A Visual Comparison

Hard bone (cortical bone):

- Dense and compact

- Composed of closely packed Haversian systems (osteons)

- Appears smooth and solid to the naked eye

Spongy bone (cancellous bone):

- Porous and honeycomb-like

- Consists of a network of thin, plate-like trabeculae

- Contains bone marrow within its spaces

- Has a cancellous appearance with numerous interconnecting spaces