Osteoclasts

Patent Pending An osteoclast (from the Greek words for "bone" (Οστό) and "broken" (κλαστός)) is a type of bone cell that resorbs bone tissue. This function is critical in the maintenance and repair of compact bones in the mammalian skeleton. These bones are stronger than aluminum on a weight basis by being a composite material of approximately equal amounts of hydrated protein and mineral. The osteoclast disassembles this very strong composite at a molecular level by secreting acid and a collagenase. This process is known as bone resorption. Osteoclasts and osteoblasts are instrumental in controlling the amount of bone tissue: osteoblasts form bone, osteoclasts re-absorb bone.