osteocyte

Function

• act in a paracrine manner on osteoblasts
• mechanosensory role
• do NOT produce osteoid or mineralize matrix
• osteocytes make sclerostin
  • sclerostin generally inhibits bone formation
  • when osteocytes sense bone-loading activities, sclerostin secretion diminishes, allowing for increased bone formation

Formation:

• derived from trapping of osteoblasts in bone marrow

More general terms

• connective tissue cell

More specific terms

• osteoblast
• osteoclast