Which of the following best describes bone resorption during growth or repair?

Which of the following best describes bone resorption during growth or repair?

• A. Osteoclasts
• B. Osteoblasts
• C. Osteocytes
• D. Chondrocytes

Answer: (A)

Osteoclasts are the cells responsible for bone resorption during growth or repair. These large, multinucleated cells attach to the bone surface and secrete acid and proteolytic enzymes that dissolve mineral components and degrade the organic matrix. This resorption clears old or damaged bone and releases minerals, creating space that osteoblasts later fill with new bone tissue. In contrast, osteoblasts build new bone, osteocytes are mature bone cells that help coordinate remodeling, and chondrocytes are cartilage cells involved in cartilage formation, not bone resorption. So the resorbing action is driven by osteoclasts.

Osteoclasts are the cells responsible for bone resorption during growth or repair. These large, multinucleated cells attach to the bone surface and secrete acid and proteolytic enzymes that dissolve mineral components and degrade the organic matrix. This resorption clears old or damaged bone and releases minerals, creating space that osteoblasts later fill with new bone tissue. In contrast, osteoblasts build new bone, osteocytes are mature bone cells that help coordinate remodeling, and chondrocytes are cartilage cells involved in cartilage formation, not bone resorption. So the resorbing action is driven by osteoclasts.