What are Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts?
Osteoblasts are one type of bone cell (out of three) that is found in bone tissue. They are bone forming cells (make bone) (bone builders). It deposits bone even as another bone cell, osteoclasts, breaks it down. When there is a break, or lacuna, in the bone the osteoblasts form a sheet over the gap. Then osteoids cover the osteoblats trapping them in the lacuna. Inside the lacuna they then turn into osteocytes, a type of bone cell.osteoblasts are bone forming cells, and osteoclasts are bone destroying cells.Osteoblasts (from the Greek words for "bone" and "germ" or embryonic) are mononucleate cells that are responsible for bone formation; in essence, osteoblasts are sophisticated fibroblasts that express all genes that fibroblasts express, with the addition of the genes for bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin.[1]Osteoblasts produce osteoid, which is composed mainly of Type I collagen. Osteoblasts are also responsible for mineralization of the osteoid matrix. Zinc, copper and sodium are some of the many minerals produced. Bone is a dynamic tissue that is constantly being reshaped by osteoblasts, which build bone, and osteoclasts, which resorb bone. Osteoblast cells tend to decrease as individuals become elderly, thus decreasing the natural renovation of the bone tissue.[2]osteoblasts produce bones in the body. they are bone producing cellsAn osteoblast is an immature bone cell. Eventually, the osteoblast will mature into an osteocyte and ossify, or harden, into bone.Living cells within the bone are engaged in an unceasing process of remodeling. Osteoblasts lining the surface of bone are much like fibroblasts and deposit and organize new bone matrix while osteoclasts demolish old bone matrix. Osteoblasts are converted into osteocytes as they become embedded in this matrix and the matrix calcifies.
