osteocyte

(noun)

a mature bone cell involved with the maintenance of bone

Related Terms

  • osteon
  • trabecula
  • epiphysis
  • osteoclast
  • osteoprogenitor
  • canaliculus
  • periosteum
  • endosteum
  • lacuna
  • osteoblast

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.
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