A new understanding of osteocyte process ultrastructure

Bone adapts readily and rapidly to its mechanical loading environment to give rise to a functionally well designed tissue and organ. The "mechanosensor" for bone adaptation is widely believed to be the osteocyte. However, to date we have only a very preliminary knowledge of how these cells function in this regard. A new model was advanced recently which suggest a potential mechanism of mechanotransduction in bone. We then experimentally verified and measured the essential biological elements assumed by this new model using ultrastructural method.