cartilage lacuna

lacuna /la·cu·na/ (lah-ku´nah) pl. lacu´nae   [L.]

1. a small pit or hollow cavity.

2. a defect or gap, as in the field of vision (scotoma).lacu´nar

---

absorption lacuna  resorption l.

bone lacuna  a small cavity within the bone matrix, containing an osteocyte; from it slender canaliculi radiate and penetrate the adjacent lamellae to anastomose with the canaliculi of neighboring lacunae, thus forming a system of cavities interconnected by minute canals.

cartilage lacuna  any of the small cavities within the cartilage matrix, containing a chondrocyte.

Howship's lacuna  resorption l.

intervillous lacuna  one of the blood spaces of the placenta in which the fetal villi are found.

lateral lacunae  venous meshworks within the dura mater on either side of the superior sagittal sinus.

osseous lacuna  bone l.

lacuna pharyn´gis  a depression at the pharyngeal end of the eustachian tube.

resorption lacuna  a pit or groove in developing bone that is undergoing resorption; frequently found to contain osteoclasts.

trophoblastic lacuna  intervillous l.

---

cartilage lacuna

n.

A cavity within the matrix of cartilage, occupied by a chondrocyte. Also called cartilage space.

---

lacuna

pl. lacunae [L.]

1. a small pit or hollow cavity.

2. a defect or gap, as in the field of vision (scotoma).

---

absorption lacuna

a pit or groove in developing bone that is undergoing resorption; frequently found to contain osteoclasts.

bone lacuna

a small cavity within the bone matrix, containing an osteocyte, and from which slender canaliculi radiate and penetrate the adjacent lamellae to anastomose with the canaliculi of neighboring lacunae, thus forming a system of cavities interconnected by minute canals.

cartilage lacuna

any of the small cavities within the cartilage matrix, containing a chondrocyte.

Howship's lacuna

the concave cavities which are formed by osteoclasts in the process of bone resorption.

osseous lacuna

bone lacuna (see above).

osteocytic lacuna

see bone lacuna (above).

urethral lacuna

numerous small depressions or pits in the mucous membrane of the urethra.

vascular lacuna

a breach in any membrane or other tissue which is navigated by blood vessels.