The spongy bone tissue (also called the substantia spongiosa, or trabeculae) is the porous, inner layer of bone beneath the compact bone shell. So called because of its sponge-like structure of bony |fiber|, the spongy layer is actually very strong and resistant to compressive damage. The spongy bone is particularly prevalent in the ends of long bones, where they are more subject to such damage. ~Osteoporosis~ is a disease common in post-menopausal women (as well as others who do not get sufficient calcium and phosphorus in their diets) which degrades the structural integrity of the spongy tissue, causing it to become brittle and more likely to chip or fracture.
