Question

The surface area of spongy bones is _______ times larger than compact bones, giving it a higher surface area to mass ratio, making its characteristics _______.

1) 2, stronger
2) 5, weaker
3) 10, denser
4) 20, lighter

Answer 1

Spongy bone has a significantly larger surface area than compact bone due to its porous structure, which makes it lighter, not necessarily stronger, denser, or a quantifiable number of times larger.

Step-by-step explanation:

The surface area of spongy bones is much larger than that of compact bones, which enhances their functionality in specific areas of the skeleton. Spongy bone is characterized by an irregular network of spaces, making it lighter and less dense than compact bone. Considering this structure, the correct statement would be that the surface area of spongy bones is not quantifiably times larger but significantly higher, and this contributes to making it lighter.

Compact bone, on the other hand, makes up the dense outer layer of bones and is designed to withstand compressive forces due to its density. Spongy bone, found in the interior of bones, has a greater surface area that allows for efficient red blood cell production and provides structural support with less weight.