HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What type of tissue is involved in the healing of a fractured bone?

1. Hypoxia

2. Callus

3. Aphasia

4. Trismus

The correct answer is: Callus

The healing of a fractured bone predominantly involves callus, which is a type of tissue that forms during the repair process. When a bone fractures, the body initiates a healing response that includes the formation of a soft callus made of cartilage and fibrous tissue, which later matures into a hard callus of ossified bone. This callus acts as a bridge between the two ends of the fractured bone, stabilizing the area and allowing for further healing. Over time, the callus undergoes remodeling to restore the bone’s normal structure and strength. The other options do not pertain to the healing of fractured bones: hypoxia refers to low oxygen levels, aphasia relates to language impairment often due to brain injury, and trismus refers to restricted jaw movement, which doesn’t directly relate to bone healing. Therefore, understanding that callus is essential for bone repair highlights its critical role in the healing process.