Texas Medical Assistant Certification Practice Test

Which cells are responsible for bone formation?

1. Osteoblasts

2. Osteocytes

3. Chondrocytes

4. Osteoclasts

The correct answer is: Osteoblasts

Osteoblasts are specialized cells that play a crucial role in the process of bone formation, known as osteogenesis. These cells are responsible for synthesizing and secreting the bone matrix, which includes collagen and other proteins necessary for the formation of new bone. Osteoblasts originate from precursor cells and become active when there is a need for bone growth or repair, such as during childhood development, fracture healing, or the remodeling of bone tissue in response to mechanical stress. Once osteoblasts complete their function and become embedded in the matrix they have produced, they differentiate into osteocytes, which maintain the bone matrix but do not actively form new bone. This distinction clarifies their roles within the broader context of bone health and maintenance. Chondrocytes are involved in the formation of cartilage rather than bone, playing a role in the development and growth of bones during early life and in the maintenance of cartilage in joints. Osteoclasts, on the other hand, are responsible for the resorption of bone tissue, breaking down old or damaged bone to allow for remodeling, which contrasts with the role of osteoblasts in building new bone. Thus, osteoblasts are the key contributors to bone formation, making them the correct answer to this