• Provide necessary support and as containers of important structures (Cranium, Thorax)
• Point of attachment to muscles and tendons and act as levers and joints
• Provide reservoir of essential elements such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and sodium
• To harbor hematopoetic system

Bone cells

• Osteoblasts
  • Forms osteoid
  • Contains alkaline phosphatase
• Osteocytes
• Osteoclasts
  • Multinucleated giant cells
  • Derived from mononuclear phagocytic cells
  • Destroy bone as part of remodeling process
  • Stimulated by PTH

Type of bone

• Cortical bone
  • Densely packed
  • Predominant in the cortex of long bones
  • Principally for support
• Trabecular bone
  • Cancellous bone
  • Open spongy pattern
  • Predominant in axial skeleton

Bone turnover

• Constantly being shaped and remodeled
• Destruction and formation of bone is closely coordinated

Clinical studies

• Measurement of serum calcium, phosphorous, and alkaline phosphatase
• Measurement of PTH
• Radiographs
• Bone density