BOX 2-1Bone Remodeling Terms and Definitions

  • Cortical bone: One of two types of bone; makes up the outer part of all skeletal structures (nearly 80 percent of the skeleton); is dense and compact with a slow turnover rate and is highly resistant to bending and torsion.
  • Trabecular bone: Second of the two bone types; found inside of long bones, vertebrae, pelvis, and other large flat bones; is less dense than cortical bone and has a higher turnover rate.
  • Osteoblast: A type of bone cell that is responsible for the production of bone and bone formation.
  • Osteoclast: A type of bone cell that resorbs bone using acid and enzymes.
  • Bone remodeling: Process that occurs throughout the lifetime that results from the pairing action of osteoclasts (breaking down) and osteoblasts (building up), which replaces damaged bone with new material.
  • Bone modeling: A similar process to remodeling, except that new bone is formed at a location different from the site of resorption, such as during times of growth.

SOURCE: Hadjidakis and Androulakis, 2006.

From: 2, Overview of Calcium

Cover of Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D
Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D.
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium; Ross AC, Taylor CL, Yaktine AL, et al., editors.
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2011.
Copyright © 2011, National Academy of Sciences.

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