Bone Structure, Development and Bone Biology

Abstract

The skeleton serves as a structural support system. It has mechanisms to grow and change in shape and size to suit varying mechanical forces. It is involved in the calcium/phosphate balance and in the detoxification of heavy metals. Bone tissue is continuously formed and remodeled throughout life. This is necessary since otherwise it would cross its tolerance limit after the repetitive stress and torsion it faces on a nearly daily basis. Initially, the bone achieves its increase in size and shape through growth (increase in size) and subsequent modeling. In late childhood and adulthood there is continuous renewal of the skeleton, by a process termed remodeling. Both modeling and remodeling require two separate processes namely bone resorption and bone formation to occur simultaneously to be effective. This requirement is known as “coupling.”