Bone development

Bone development, or ossification, is the process through which cartilage transforms into bone. It begins in the embryo and continues into early adulthood. There are two main types: intramembranous ossification, where bones develop directly from connective tissue (like flat bones of the skull), and endochondral ossification, where bones form from a cartilage model (like long bones). This process is guided by various cells, including osteoblasts that build bone and osteoclasts that break it down, ensuring bones grow, strengthen, and adapt to stress throughout life. Hormones and nutrition also significantly influence bone health and development.