American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) Practice Exam

The most abundant bone cell in the body is the osteocyte. Osteocytes are mature bone cells that originate from osteoblasts, which are responsible for bone formation. Once osteoblasts encase themselves in the bone matrix they have created, they differentiate into osteocytes.

These cells play a crucial role in the maintenance of bone tissue, as they are embedded within the bone matrix and maintain cellular communication through their long, dendritic processes. Osteocytes help to regulate mineral content, respond to mechanical strain, and coordinate the activity of other bone cells, which contributes to the overall health and metabolism of the bone.

In contrast, osteoblasts are primarily involved in the formation of new bone but are not as numerous as osteocytes in mature bone tissue. Osteoclasts are responsible for bone resorption, which is the process of breaking down bone, and while they are important for maintaining bone homeostasis, they are less abundant. Chondrocytes, on the other hand, are cartilage cells and are not confined to bone. Therefore, osteocytes outnumber the other types of bone cells, making them the most abundant in the skeletal system.