Bone Structure, Development and Bone Biology

The skeleton serves as an internal structural support system for vertebrates. It has mechanisms to grow and change in shape and size to suit varying stressors including the ability to resist the mechanical forces. In addition, bone is a major source of inorganic ions, and actively participates in the body’s calcium/phosphate balance. Bone tissue is continuously formed and remodeled throughout life. Initially, the bone achieves its increase in size and shape through growth (increase in size) and a complicated process known as skeletal modeling. In late childhood and adulthood there is continuous renewal of the skeleton via a process termed remodeling. Both modeling and remodeling require two separate processes namely bone resorption and bone formation to occur simultaneously to be effective. This requirement is known as “coupling”.