Dictionary.net

Certain dark stellate spots, with thread-like lines radiating from them, seen under a high magnifying power. These were at first believed to be solid osseous or bone corpuscles or cells, Oorpuscula ossium, Corpuscles of Purkinje, (F.) Cellules des os ou osseuses, Corpuscules des os ou noirs ou ramifies ou calcaires, Osteoplastes; but are now regarded as excavations in the bone -Sacculi chalicophori- with minute tubes or canaliculi proceeding from them, and communicating with the Haversian canals. The lacunae and canaliculi are fibres concentrated in the transit of nutrient fluid through the osseous tissue.