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Related Concept Videos

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling01:31

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

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Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during...
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Spongy Bone01:09

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All bones comprise an outer layer of compact bone, and an interior made up of spongy bone tissue, also called cancellous or trabecular bone. In long bones, spongy bone tissue is mainly found in the interior of the epiphyses (broad ends of the bone).
Spongy bone is more porous, and less dense compared to compact bone. It is composed of concentric lamellae that are arranged irregularly to form the trabecular network. In some bones, the spaces between trabeculae contain red marrow, where...
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Bone Cells and Tissue01:30

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Bones contain a relatively small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of organic and inorganic components. Although bone cells compose only a small amount of the bone volume, they are crucial to its function. Four types of cells are found within the bone tissue— osteoblasts, osteocytes, osteogenic cells, and osteoclasts.
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Most bones contain compact and spongy osseous tissue, but their distribution and concentration vary based on the bone's overall function.
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Bone Remodeling01:40

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Bone remodeling is a continuous and balanced process of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. In adults, it helps maintain bone mass and calcium homeostasis. While mechanical stress can stimulate turnover as part of the normal maintenance and reparative process, several hormones also regulate bone remodeling.
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Bone formation, or ossification, begins around the sixth to seventh week of embryonic development. Most bones develop from a cartilaginous template through the process of endochondral ossification. Cartilage formation begins when clusters of mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes. These chondrocytes proliferate rapidly and secrete an extracellular matrix that becomes encased in a membrane called the perichondrium. The resulting cartilage model provides a template that resembles the...
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Osteoblast and osteocyte: games without frontiers.

Mattia Capulli1, Riccardo Paone1, Nadia Rucci1

  • 1Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Italy.

Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
|May 17, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Osteoblasts and osteocytes perform diverse roles beyond bone building and structure. These cells regulate stem cell homeostasis, energy metabolism, and bone remodeling through hormones and signaling pathways.

Keywords:
Bone remodellingHormonal regulationMechanosensingOsteoblastOsteocyte

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Area of Science:

  • Bone Biology
  • Cellular Endocrinology

Background:

  • Osteoblasts were traditionally viewed solely as bone-building cells.
  • Osteocytes were considered terminally differentiated osteoblasts with passive roles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To revise the understanding of osteoblast and osteocyte functions.
  • To highlight their multifaceted roles in skeletal and systemic physiology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current scientific literature and evidence.
  • Analysis of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in bone remodeling and systemic interactions.

Main Results:

  • Osteoblasts regulate osteoclastogenesis, hematopoietic stem cell homeostasis, and act as endocrine cells via osteocalcin.
  • Osteocytes are mechanosensory and actively regulate bone remodeling through sclerostin (SOST) and RANKL production, influencing osteoblast differentiation and osteoclastogenesis.
  • Osteocytes also contribute to direct bone resorption (osteolysis) under pathological conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Osteoblasts and osteocytes possess remarkable versatility, extending beyond bone structure.
  • These cells play critical roles in systemic homeostasis, influencing metabolism, fertility, and cognition.
  • Bone tissue's complexity is underscored by the intricate interplay of these cells with various organs.