The Biochemistry and Physiology of Bone, vol 1: Structure

Abstract

The first edition of this classical treatise in 1956 documented the initial application of new research techniques to the study of bone. Since then, a steady rate of increase in knowledge about structure and function necessitates expansion of the second edition into three volumes. Appropriately, this first volume sets forth a vivid picture of bone structure, so necessary as a prerequisite to understanding the more abstract biochemical and physiological concepts expounded in the subsequent two volumes. This book, composed of nine chapters by as many authors, begins with an elementary review of bone structure and goes on to describe the osteoblast and osteoclast, provides a historical review of research related to these cells, discusses their ultrastructure and function, and speculates as to their origin and fate. Lack of a separate chapter on the osteocyte becomes readily apparent and somewhat puzzling, especially in view of the recent attention given to this