Overview of Bone and Calcium Balance

Key Concepts

• Bone as a Bank: Bones serve as a storage system for calcium, similar to how banks store money.
• Calcium Movement:
  • Deposit: When calcium levels are high in the blood, calcium is "deposited" into the bone.
  • Withdrawal: When calcium levels are low in the blood, calcium is "withdrawn" from the bone.

Cells Involved in Calcium Balance

• Osteoblasts:
  • Function: Build new bone, thereby depositing calcium from the bloodstream into the bone.
  • Role: Active when there is too much calcium in the blood.
• Osteoclasts:
  • Function: Break down bone, releasing calcium into the bloodstream.
  • Role: Active when there is too little calcium in the blood.

Calcium Homeostasis

• Buffer System: Bone acts as a buffer to help maintain stable calcium levels in the blood.
• Continuous Process: The activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts continuously works to regulate calcium balance.
• External Factors: Other factors also contribute to calcium homeostasis, although not detailed in this overview.