Osteocytes

This image shows the structure of osteocyte cells in the cortex of a mouse tibia bone. Osteocytes are the cells that form new bone. Imbedding the bone in resin, which was subsequently etched with perchloric acid, created this particular image by removing the entire mineral in the sample leaving a replica of the area. Therefore, what is observed is the resin that filled the spaces in the bone and the spaces inside the cells.