osteocyte

osteocyte
/os"tee euh suyt'/, n. Cell Biol.
a cell of osseous tissue within the bone matrix; a bone cell.
[1940-45; OSTEO- + -CYTE]

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▪ cell
      a cell that lies within the substance of fully formed bone. It occupies a small chamber called a lacuna, which is contained in the calcified matrix of bone. Osteocytes derive from osteoblasts (osteoblast), or bone-forming cells, and are essentially osteoblasts surrounded by the products they secreted. Cytoplasmic processes of the osteocyte extend away from the cell toward other osteocytes in small channels called canaliculi. By means of these canaliculi, nutrients and waste products are exchanged to maintain the viability of the osteocyte.

      The osteocyte is capable of bone deposition and resorption. It also is involved in bone remodeling by transmitting signals to other osteocytes in response to even slight deformations of bone caused by muscular activity. In this way, bone becomes stronger if additional stress is placed on it (for example, by frequent exercise or physical exertion) and weaker if it is relieved of stress (for example, by inactivity). The osteocyte may aid in calcium removal from bone when the body's calcium level drops too low.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Osteocyte — Transverse Section Of Bone Latin osteocytus Code TH …   Wikipedia

  • Osteocyte — Ostéocyte L ostéocyte est le devenir de l ostéoblaste. Il se situe dans le tissu osseux à la différence de l ostéoblaste, situé dans la matrice minéralisée. Il est logé dans des cavités creusées dans la matrice : l ostéoplaste. C est une… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • ostéocyte — [ ɔsteɔsit ] n. m. • 1964; de ostéo et cyte ♦ Biol. Cellule osseuse arrivée à maturité (opposé à ostéoblaste). ● ostéocyte nom masculin Cellule de base du tissu osseux. ostéocyte n. m. ANAT Cellule osseuse définitive. (V. ostéoblaste.) ost …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • osteocyte — [äs′tē ō sīt΄] n. any of the branched cells in the tiny cavities of bone, that are involved in the formation of bone …   English World dictionary

  • Ostéocyte — L ostéocyte est la cellule du tissu osseux, elle est issue de l ostéoblaste. Un Ostéocyte et ses prolongements, logés dans le système ostéoplaste / canalicule Il se situe dans le tissu osseux à la différence de l ostéoblaste, situé dans la… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • osteocyte — noun Date: 1942 a cell that is characteristic of adult bone and is isolated in a lacuna of the bone substance …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • osteocyte — a cell derivid from an osteoblast responsible for building the hard matrix of bone (supportive fibres impregnated with calcium hydroxyapatite). Osteocytes are usually found in lacunae embedded in the hard matrix but may be superficial to the… …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • osteocyte — Osteoblast that is embedded in bony tissue and which is relatively inactive …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • osteocyte — A cell of osseous tissue that occupies a lacuna and has cytoplasmic processes that extend into canaliculi and make contact by means of gap junctions with the processes of other osteocytes. SYN: bone cell, bone corpuscle, osseous cell. [osteo + G …   Medical dictionary

  • osteocyte — os·te·o·cyte …   English syllables

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