Medical term:

osteoclast

[os´te-o-klast″]

1. a large, multinuclear cell frequently associated with resorption of bone.

2. a surgical instrument used for osteoclasis. adj., adj osteoclas´tic.

os·te·o·clast

(os'tē-ō-klast'),

1. A large multinucleated cell, possibly of monocytic origin, with abundant acidophilic cytoplasm, functioning in the absorption and removal of osseous tissue. Synonym(s): osteophage

2. An instrument used to fracture a bone to correct a deformity.

[osteo- + G. klastos, broken]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

osteoclast

(ŏs′tē-ə-klăst′)

1. A large multinucleate cell found in growing bone that resorbs bony tissue, as in the formation of canals and cavities.

2. An instrument used in surgical osteoclasis.

os′te·o·clas′tic adj.

osteoclast

A cell responsible for reabsorption of bone matrix, which has a central role in bone remodeling.

Morphology
Very large (±100 µm in diameter). It has multiple, relatively uniform, but widely separated round or ovoid nuclei with one or more nucleoli, dense chromatin, abundant blue or purple to pale-pink cytoplasm with many fine red-purple granules.

Origin
Osteoclasts derive from monocyte/macrophage precursors and are unrelated to osteoblasts. Their physiologyic role of bone resorption is linked to charge-coupled proton pumps that secrete acid into the extracellular space.

os·te·o·clast

(os'tē-ō-klast)

1. A large multinucleated cell, possibly of monocytic origin, with abundant acidophilic cytoplasm, functioning in the absorption and removal of osseous tissue.
Synonym(s): osteophage.

2. An instrument used to fracture a bone to correct a deformity.

[osteo- + G. klastos, broken]

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

osteoclast

1. A giant cell containing many nuclei and capable of bone destruction and absorption. Osteoclasts work in conjunction with OSTEOBLASTS in the process of normal bone growth and in bone repair after fractures.

2. A surgical instrument used to fracture bone.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

osteoclast

a multinucleate ameoboid cell that breaks down bone during growth and remodelling.
(also called Chomdrioclast) same kind that breaks down cartilage in the transformation to bone.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005

Osteoclast

Cell that absorbs bone.

Mentioned in: Multiple Myeloma

os·te·o·clast

(os'tē-ō-klast)

1. Large multinucleated cell, with abundant acidophilic cytoplasm, functioning in absorption and removal of osseous tissue.

2. An instrument used to fracture bone to correct a deformity.

os·te·o·clas·tic

(os'tē-ō-klas'tik),

Pertaining to osteoclasts, especially with reference to their activity in the absorption and removal of osseous tissue.

os·te·o·clas·tic

(os'tē-ō-klas'tik)

Pertaining to osteoclasts, especially with reference to their activity in the absorption and removal of osseous tissue.

osteoclast

(ŏs′tē-ō-klăst) [″ + klan, to break]

1. A device for fracturing bones for therapeutic purposes.

2. A giant, multinucleated cell derived from blood cell (monocyte) precursors formed in the bone marrow of growing bones. Osteoclasts are found in depressions (called Howship's lacunae) on the surface of the bone. By absorbing calcium salts, they remove excess bone tissue, as in the remodeling of growing bones or damaged bone in the repair of fractures.

osteoclastic (-klăs′tĭk), adjectiveillustration

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