osteocyte

Examples of osteocyte in the following topics:

• Cell Types in Bones

  • Bone consists of four types of cells: osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteocytes, and osteoprogenitor (or osteogenic) cells .
  • Each osteocyte is located in a space (lacuna) surrounded by bone tissue.
  • Osteocytes maintain the mineral concentration of the matrix via the secretion of enzymes.
  • As is the case with osteoblasts, osteocytes lack mitotic activity.
  • If osteoblasts and osteocytes are incapable of mitosis, then how are they replenished when old ones die?

• Bone

  • Osteocytes, the living cells of bone tissue, form the mineral matrix of bones.
  • Osteons are cylindrical structures that contain a mineral matrix and living osteocytes connected by canaliculi which transport blood.
  • Blood vessels within this tissue deliver nutrients to osteocytes and remove waste.
  • The small dark ovals in the osteon represent the living osteocytes.

• Connective Tissues: Bone, Adipose, and Blood

  • There are three types of cells in bone: osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts.
  • They deposit bone material into the matrix and, after the matrix surrounds them, they continue to live, but in a reduced metabolic state as osteocytes.
  • Osteocytes are found in lacunae of the bone and assist in maintenance of the bone.
  • Osteoclasts bore tunnels into the bone and osteocytes are found in the lacunae.

• Gnathostomes: Jawed Fishes

  • Nearly all bony fish have an ossified skeleton with specialized bone cells (osteocytes) that produce and maintain a calcium phosphate matrix.