Cancellous bone. Light micrograph of a section through cancellous, or spongy, bone. Constructed in a honeycomb-type architecture, cancellous bone is typically found in the central regions of mature bone. The interconnected spaces between the bone tissue hold bone marrow and reduce the mass of bone, yet retain the considerable strength necessary for weight-bearing. The blue-stained areas of mature bone contain scattered osteocyte bone cells. Red regions represent newly-forming immature bone tissue called osteoid. Over time osteoid becomes mineralised to form dense, strong mature bone tissue. Cancellous bone derives its nutrients from blood vessels coursing through the marrow. Magnification: x89, when printed 10 centimetres high.