Bone is a dynamic, living tissue. New bone is made by osteoblasts located on the surface of newly formed bone. The most recent material is not mineralized and is referred to as the osteoid seam. This material is mineralized later to form mature bone. Osteoclasts are also located on the bone surface. These are large, multinucleated cells responsible for “eating up” mature bone to release calcium into the blood stream. If the balance between these two bone cell types is disturbed, disease may result. Osteoporosis is a disease where the osteoclast activity outpaces the osteoblast activity; weak, porotic bones prone to breakage, can result (Figure 2).
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