Fig. 1
A multilayered porous system in bone allows for dynamic fluid flow (green arrows) at the nano, micro- and macroscale. a A microCT image of healthy murine trabecular bone. The bone structure consists of micro- and macropores. b A schematic demonstrating osteocytes within the LCS. c Representative photomicrographs of a longitudinal section prepared from the distal femur of a healthy rat. The pores are inhabited by bone marrow containing blood vessels and multiple cell groups. The pores provide an environment for fluid movement (red arrows) and the generation of fluid-induced cellular mechanostimulation. d Representative images of osteocytes within the LCS. The osteocyte nucleus (blue) and cell processes (green) are observed within the canaliculi and allow communication between cells that are located at distant sites. Images were taken from cryo-sections prepared from healthy rat bone. Not presented are the vascular porosities within the Volkmann and Haversian canals, which provide an additional pore structure, as well as the collagen-hydroxyapatite porosities, which comprise the smallest pore size in bone
