(os'tē-ŏ-klast‵ )

[osteo-+ -clasis, -clast]

1. A device for fracturing bones for therapeutic purposes.
2. A giant multinucleated cell derived from blood cell (monocyte) precursors formed in the bone marrow of growing bones. Osteoclasts are found in depressions (Howship lacunae) on the surface of the bone. By absorbing calcium salts, they remove excess bone tissue, as in the remodeling of growing bones or damaged bone in the repair of fractures.

osteoclastic,

(os‵tē-ŏ-klas'tik )

TabersPlus.