Bone Growth

Question 1

What is the process of bone growth called?

Answer 1

ossification

Question 2

How does ossification occur?

Answer 2

bones first form as hyaline cartilage, then gradually changes into bone tissue

Question 3

What are osteoblasts?

Answer 3

creates osteocytes, builds bone

Question 4

What are osteoclasts?

Answer 4

bone resorption, consumes bone

Question 5

What is the epiphyseal disk?

Answer 5

the growth plate, a band of cartilage between the epiphysis and diaphysis

Question 6

What is Heterotopic Ossification (HO)?

Answer 6

abnormal bone growth in the non-skeletal tissues (muscle, tendons, other soft, connective tissue)

Question 7

What is the difference between a young hand and an adult hand?

Answer 7

ossification is complete in an adult hand

Question 8

What is bone growth in FOP due to?

Answer 8

a mutation in a gene for BMP (bone morphogenetic protein). as a result, the receptor stays in an “ON” state

Question 9

What are Noggin and Gremlin?

Answer 9

inhibitors of BMP signaling

Question 10

What can be done for FOP?

Answer 10

gene therapy, steroid injections, find other inhibitors