Final answer:
Supporting bundles of bony fibers in cancellous bone mainly provide structural support and are involved in the production of blood cells within the marrow. These structures help bones to absorb stress and protect internal organs while also contributing to the storage of minerals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of supporting bundles of bony fibers in cancellous bone, also known as spongy bone, is to provide structural support. These bony fibers form a mesh-like pattern that lends strength and resilience to bones while keeping them lightweight. Cancellous bone is found at the ends of long bones like the femur, within short bones like carpals, and in the interior of flat bones such as the ribs. The spongy structure helps absorb the stress placed upon bones during movement and helps to protect internal organs. Additionally, the cavities within this spongy tissue contain marrow, which is responsible for producing blood cells (hematopoiesis). While storage of minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus, occurs within the bone matrix, and both compact and spongy bone tissues contribute to this function, it is not the primary role of the structure of cancellous bone itself.