What does the osteocyte do?

What does the osteocyte do?

• A. Build bone
• B. Maintain bone
• C. Dissolve bone
• D. Produce blood cells

Answer: (B)

Osteocytes maintain bone tissue. They’re mature bone cells embedded in the mineralized matrix, connected through small channels to form a network that senses mechanical strain and coordinates remodeling. By signaling to osteoblasts and osteoclasts, they help regulate where new bone forms and where old bone is resorbed, and they contribute to mineral balance. They don’t build bone like osteoblasts, don’t dissolve bone like osteoclasts, and don’t produce blood cells—that function is in the bone marrow. So maintaining bone tissue is their primary role.

Osteocytes maintain bone tissue. They’re mature bone cells embedded in the mineralized matrix, connected through small channels to form a network that senses mechanical strain and coordinates remodeling. By signaling to osteoblasts and osteoclasts, they help regulate where new bone forms and where old bone is resorbed, and they contribute to mineral balance. They don’t build bone like osteoblasts, don’t dissolve bone like osteoclasts, and don’t produce blood cells—that function is in the bone marrow. So maintaining bone tissue is their primary role.