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Bone Formation, Growth, and Remodeling
Bone Formation is known as _________________________________.
Describe the development of long bones:
o What tissue begins the stages of long bone development?
o
How many phases occur in the development of long bones?
o First…
o
Second…
o
What two bone cell types are responsible for the deposition and removal of bone as bone forms during
embryonic, fetal, and childhood?
o
What is appositional growth? What hormones control this type of long bone growth? When does it
end?
Describe bone remodeling. Why do bones remodel/change their appearance? What factors will affect the
shape and/or size of bone?
o
Controlled by 2 hormones:
1. Parathyroid Hormone
2. Calcitonin
-When blood calcium levels DROP below homeostatic conditions:
-When blood calcium levels RISE above homeostatic conditions:
Bone Fractures and Healing
Describe the events of bone fracture repair.
The Skeleton and Calcium
While it's relatively common knowledge that calcium is an important mineral in the human diet, and plays an
important part in maintaining the health of the skeletal system, the exact role of calcium in skeletal organization
is not as commonly understood. In fact, calcium is not simply an ingredient in bone, but bones store calcium for
other functions, as well.
Significance
The skeletal system is essential to human function for a variety of reasons. First, muscles attach to
bones, and while the muscles produce movement, the skeletal system is their foundation for doing so.
Without a strong skeletal system, the body couldn't move. Additionally, strong bones provide
protection for delicate internal organs such as the brain, lungs, heart, and reproductive organs. A
strong skeleton is crucial to life and health.
Function
The role of calcium in the skeletal system is twofold. Humans need to maintain strong bones in order
to maintain a strong and functional skeletal system, and calcium is an important part of the bone
matrix. Explains Dr. Lauralee Sherwood in her book "Human Physiology," the human skeleton is
made up of about one third cartilaginous tissue called chondroitin sulfate and about two thirds bony
salts called hydroxylapatite. The bony salts have the chemical formula Ca5(PO4)3OH.
Considerations
The skeletal system isn't the only of the body's organ systems that uses calcium, however. The
muscles, including the heart, rely upon calcium signals to initiate and maintain contraction. As such,
calcium in the bloodstream is important to both muscular and cardiovascular function, and the body
works hard to maintain a constant level of calcium in the blood. Notes Dr. Gary Thibodeau in his book
"Anatomy and Physiology," the skeleton acts as a "warehouse" for calcium.
Calcium Storage
In order to maintain constant levels of calcium in the blood, body hormones can either add calcium to
or remove it from bone matrix, as needed. Parathyroid hormone from the parathyroid gland in the
neck pulls calcium from the bones to increase blood calcium, notes Dr. Thibodeau, while calcitonin
from the thyroid gland adds calcium to bones to decrease blood calcium. Though calcium is crucial to
skeletal integrity as well as to muscle function, the body prioritizes blood calcium above skeletal
calcium.
Expert Insight
Certain factors can decrease the amount of available calcium in the bloodstream, and may cause the
body to pull large amounts of calcium from the bones. In extreme cases and over time, this can lead
to weakening of the bone matrix known as osteoporosis. Explains Dr. Sherwood, females are more
susceptible to osteoporosis than males, since they have less bone density to begin with. Aging
individuals are also more susceptible, since calcium consumption and absorption from the gut tend to
decrease with age.
Credit: Livestrong.com