Question

If osteoblast activity is less than osteoclast activity what is happening to the amount of bone tissue in the body? What is happening to the amount of calcium in blood?

Answer 1

Answer

• Osteoblasts cells in the bone deposite calcium from blood into the bone tissue.
• Osteoclasts cells release calcium from the bone leading to bone breakdown.

- If osteoblasts activity declines, calcium will not be deposited adequately into the bone.
- The bone mass will decline leading to osteoporosis.
- As a result the bone will become brittle.


- Underactivity of osteoblasts will increase blood calcium levels.
- As osteoblasts cannot work efficiently, blood calcium cannot be used to build the bone.
- Osteoclasts cells will continue to resorb bone, increase absorption and reabsorption of calcium from intestine and kidneys respectively. This will further increase blood calcium levels.