Which bone tissue is found at the ends of long bones and has a lattice of trabeculae?

• A. Compact bone
• B. Periosteum
• C. Spongy bone
• D. Visceral peritoneum

Answer: (C)

Spongy bone is the tissue found at the ends of long bones. It forms a lattice of thin trabeculae that creates many small spaces, making the bone lightweight yet capable of withstanding stresses from different directions—ideal for the joint surfaces at the epiphyses. This trabecular network, or cancellous bone, is often filled with red bone marrow, supporting blood cell formation. The dense outer shell around the ends is compact bone, while the surrounding membrane is periosteum; visceral peritoneum is unrelated to the skeleton. So the ends of long bones use spongy bone to combine strength with lightness and to house marrow.