Spongy bone makes up about what percentage of skeletal mass?

Spongy bone makes up about what percentage of skeletal mass?

• A. 5%
• B. 20%
• C. 50%
• D. 80%

Answer: (B)

Spongy bone, also called cancellous bone, is the lighter, lattice-like tissue inside bones. It accounts for roughly one-fifth of the skeleton’s mass, with the remaining majority coming from the dense outer layer called cortical bone. This distribution reflects the different roles: cortical bone provides most of the bone’s strength and weight, while spongy bone is lighter, highly vascular, and houses bone marrow, contributing to metabolic activity and shock absorption without adding much to overall mass. So the best answer is about 20% of skeletal mass.

Spongy bone, also called cancellous bone, is the lighter, lattice-like tissue inside bones. It accounts for roughly one-fifth of the skeleton’s mass, with the remaining majority coming from the dense outer layer called cortical bone. This distribution reflects the different roles: cortical bone provides most of the bone’s strength and weight, while spongy bone is lighter, highly vascular, and houses bone marrow, contributing to metabolic activity and shock absorption without adding much to overall mass. So the best answer is about 20% of skeletal mass.