Osteoclast/osteoblast balanced functions

Bone is a vital, dynamic connective tissue which has evolved to reflect a balance between its two major functions, provision of mechanical integrity for locomotion and protection and involvement in the metabolic pathways associated with mineral homeostatis. In addition, bone is the primary site of hemopoiesis and recent findings support its important role as a component of the immune system [1]. Bones continuously mend and rebuild themselves by opposing actions of two types of cells, the osteoblasts that form bone and the osteoclasts that resorb (destroy) bone. When the activity of the bone destroying osteoclast cell outpaces that of bone forming osteoblasts, the bottom line is bone loss and the result is osteoporosis. 

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