General Anatomy · Skeletal System · Medium
Osteoblast
Meaning: A bone cell that builds new bone by laying down matrix and minerals.
In practice: Osteoblasts are busy during fracture healing, laying down new bone at the break.
Word parts
- osteo- means bone
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related general anatomy words.
Which word means: The clear jelly filling the space behind the lens of the eye.
Answer: Vitreous
Which word means: Leaf-shaped flap of cartilage that covers the laryngeal inlet during swallowing.
Answer: Epiglottis
Words like osteoblast come up in the daily game
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