BONE REMODELING

Bone resorption OSTEOCLASTS

Secretion of
OSTEOBLASTS
osteoprotegerin

Binds to RANKL

Secretion of RANKL AGED BONE

Binds to RANK

Slows osteoclastic
activity

Osteoclasts releases
Cell death
lysosomal enzymes

Collagenase Hydrochloric acid

(collagen) (calcium and phosphate)

Secretion of collagen calcium

Bone matrix NEW BONE TISSUE
osteoid seam osteocytes

Normally, bone is remodeled every 10 yrs. Bone remodeling starts when osteoclast starts bone
resorption. Old brittle bone is resorbed by the osteoclast. In order to stop the process of bone
resorption, another bone cell called osteoblasts (responsible for bone formation) secretes
substance called osteoprotegerin which binds to a receptor activator called RANKL.
RANKL binds to the receptor of the osteoclasts called RANK, to slows osteoclastic activity. After
the osteoclasts is activated, it then releases its lysosomal enzymes particularly collagenase and
HCI. Collagenase which mainly contains collagen is then absorbed by the bone. Hydrochloric
Acid digests hydroxyapatite that turns into calcium and phosphate that is then absorbed into the
bloodstream.
Osteoclasts will go into the process of apoptosis or the process of cell death. Since osteoclastic
activity is stopped. Osteoblasts will then starts doing its job. The collagen and calcium that was
released are then stored into the bone matrix which then later on becomes a new bone tissue.