Current Concepts of Bone Formation

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Abstract
The influence of environment on cell function during osteogenesis has been emphasized in this presentation. It should be remembered, however, that the milieu controls the functional activity of all cells to an important degree. For example, the cell membrane and the environment to which it is exposed control the raw materials entering the cell. These materials then determine, in part, the products that the cell can synthesize and release. Once released, the products influence the extracellular microenvironment. In the special case of connective tissues, even the pattern in which the products are put together may be influenced by that environment. To put it another way: Products released by cells are dependent upon genetic information + environment. Tissue structure is dependent upon products released by cells + environment. Environment, in part is dependent upon tissue structure + products released by cells. Finally, an analogy may be drawn between the genetic coding system within the cell and a data-processing center. Both have greater capabilities than they can express at any one time. Both are able to act only on materials provided to them and will respond in different manners following different stimuli.