osteocytes

(noun)

 A star-shaped type of bone cell that is found in the cells of mature bone.

Related Terms

Examples of osteocytes in the following topics:

  • Microscopic Anatomy of Bone

    • It has a high proportion of osteocytes to hard inorganic salts that leads to its mechanical weakness.
    • In contrast to woven bone, lamellar bone is highly organized in concentric sheets with a much lower proportion of osteocytes to surrounding tissue.

  • Supply of Blood and Nerves to Bone

    • The Haversian canals also surround nerve cells throughout the bone and communicate with osteocytes in lacunae (spaces within the dense bone matrix that contain the living bone cells) through canaliculi.

  • Embryonic and Fetal Bone Formation

    • When osteoblasts become trapped in the matrix that they secrete, they differentiate into osteocytes.

  • Bone Remodeling

    • Insulin-like growth factors protect cartilage cells, and are associated with the activation of osteocytes.

  • Gross Anatomy

    • Osteocytes and osteoclasts: These are involved in the reabsorption of bone tissue.

  • Structure, Type, and Location of Cartilage

    • For one, the primary cell types are chondrocytes as opposed to osteocytes.