Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Bone Matrix01:18

The Bone Matrix

4.9K
Bone contains a relatively small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of collagen fibers that provide an adherent surface for inorganic salt crystals. Both components of the matrix, organic and inorganic, contribute to the unusual properties of bone. Without collagen, bones would be brittle and shatter easily. Without mineral crystals, bones would flex and provide little support. This can be observed by an experiment: when the minerals of a bone are dissolved by soaking the bone in...
4.9K
Bone Cells and Tissue01:30

Bone Cells and Tissue

6.7K
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.
Osteoblasts and Osteocytes
The osteoblast is the bone cell responsible for forming new bone tissue. It is found in the growing portions of bone, including the...
6.7K
Bone Remodeling01:40

Bone Remodeling

38.9K
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.
38.9K
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling01:31

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

3.4K
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...
3.4K
Compact Bone01:27

Compact Bone

14.5K
Most bones contain compact and spongy osseous tissue, but their distribution and concentration vary based on the bone's overall function.
Compact bone, also called cortical bone, is the denser, stronger of the two types of bone tissue. It is found under the periosteum and in the diaphyses of long bones, where it provides support and protection. The microscopic structural unit of compact bone is called an osteon, or haversian system. Each osteon is composed of concentric rings of calcified...
14.5K
Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification01:24

Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification

6.8K
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...
6.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A Rare Case of Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Appendiceal Dieulafoy's Lesion.

Digestive diseases and sciences·2026
Same author

CELF family of RNA-binding proteins: roles in disease biology and potential for therapeutic intervention.

Cell communication and signaling : CCS·2026
Same author

Farmer and Consumer Responses to African Swine Fever Outbreaks: Implications for Post-Outbreak Control and Eradication.

Veterinary sciences·2026
Same author

Research on longitudinal bowing defect of aluminum alloy plate in roll-forming asymmetric corrugated channels.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Synchronous orbital and intracranial infantile hemangiomas: a case report and literature review.

Frontiers in pediatrics·2026
Same author

A clinically applicable energy-based approach for evaluating bone strength.

Bone & joint research·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 26, 2025

Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis
14:55

Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis

Published on: June 24, 2018

9.4K

Osteocytes but not osteoblasts directly build mineralized bone structures.

Ke Wang1, Yinshi Ren1,2, Shuxian Lin1,3

  • 1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX 75246, USA.

International Journal of Biological Sciences
|July 30, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Osteocytes, not osteoblasts, build mineralized bone structures. Defects in osteocytes cause hypophosphatemia rickets, challenging established bone biology dogma.

Keywords:
DMP1MineralizationPhexbone formationhypophosphatemia ricketsosteoblastosteocyte

More Related Videos

Obtaining Primary Osteocytes Through Murine Calvarial Fractionation of GFP-Expressing Osteocytes
07:22

Obtaining Primary Osteocytes Through Murine Calvarial Fractionation of GFP-Expressing Osteocytes

Published on: June 2, 2020

2.3K
IDG-SW3 Cell Culture in a Three-Dimensional Extracellular Matrix
10:48

IDG-SW3 Cell Culture in a Three-Dimensional Extracellular Matrix

Published on: November 13, 2023

1.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 26, 2025

Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis
14:55

Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis

Published on: June 24, 2018

9.4K
Obtaining Primary Osteocytes Through Murine Calvarial Fractionation of GFP-Expressing Osteocytes
07:22

Obtaining Primary Osteocytes Through Murine Calvarial Fractionation of GFP-Expressing Osteocytes

Published on: June 2, 2020

2.3K
IDG-SW3 Cell Culture in a Three-Dimensional Extracellular Matrix
10:48

IDG-SW3 Cell Culture in a Three-Dimensional Extracellular Matrix

Published on: November 13, 2023

1.4K

Area of Science:

  • Bone biology
  • Cellular biology
  • Mineralization processes

Background:

  • Osteoblasts have historically been the focus of bone biology research.
  • Osteocytes, comprising 90% of bone cells, have been largely overlooked.
  • Existing research centers on osteoblasts, neglecting the role of osteocytes in bone formation and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that osteocytes, not osteoblasts, directly construct mineralized bone.
  • To investigate the role of osteocyte defects in the development of hypophosphatemia rickets.
  • To challenge the conventional understanding of osteoblast and osteocyte functions in bone biology.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized in vivo and in vitro models for comprehensive analysis.
  • Employed modified imaging techniques to observe bone formation processes.
  • Investigated Dmp1-null and Hyp (Phex mutation) mice, alongside Dmp1-Cre induced beta-catenin models.

Main Results:

  • Osteocytes, through their dendrites and secreted mineral matrices, build bone from the inside out.
  • Osteoblasts failing to differentiate into osteocytes lead to aberrant mineralization due to increased Wnt-beta-catenin signaling.
  • Constitutive beta-catenin expression in osteocytes replicated osteomalacia phenotypes seen in Dmp1-null or Hyp mice.

Conclusions:

  • Osteocytes are the direct builders of mineralized bone structures.
  • Osteoblasts function as short-lived precursors to osteocytes.
  • This study redefines the roles of osteoblasts and osteocytes in bone formation and disease pathogenesis.