Osteocyte

Osteocytes (from the Latin os 'bone' and ancient Greek κύτος kytos 'cell'; bone cells ) are mononuclear cells that lie in a lacunae system in the mineralized matrix of the bone tissue . They arise from osteoblasts , which were walled in in the course of osteogenesis or bone remodeling . They lie in a cavity system between the individual bone lamellae. This cavity system consists of lacunae, in which the cell body lies, and the finest canals ( canaliculi ), in which there are cell extensions. These cell extensions network the osteocytes with one another via gap junctions and serve to exchange nutrients.

The osteocytes do not completely fill these cavities. A cavity filled with collagen fibrils and interstitial fluid remains free. Through this system the osteocytes can be reached by diffusion. The osteocytes register mechanical stress and regulate bone remodeling .

histology

The cell nucleus aligned parallel to the bone lamellae can be seen in the specimen. The actual shape of the cell can only be seen in special stains, which make the cavity system in which the cells are located visible.

literature

• Renate Lüllmann-Rauch: pocket textbook histology . 5th edition. Thieme, Stuttgart 2015, ISBN 978-3-13-129245-2 , Chapter 8.4 Bones .
• Ulrich Welsch: Textbook Histology . 2002