American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) Practice Exam 2026 - Free Orthodontics Practice Questions and Study Guide

Osteoclasts are the cells associated with the stress surface, primarily due to their role in bone remodeling. When mechanical stress is applied to bone, it activates signaling pathways that stimulate the formation and activity of osteoclasts. These cells are responsible for the resorption of bone tissue, which is essential for the adaptation of bone structure in response to the mechanical loading and unloading experienced by the skeleton.

This process is crucial during growth and adaptation. When bones are subjected to stress, osteoclasts help in reshaping the bone to withstand future forces, ensuring the structural integrity of the skeletal framework. Their activity is overseen by osteocytes, which act as mechanosensors and communicate with both osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) and osteoclasts to regulate bone metabolism.

The other cell types mentioned, such as osteoblasts and chondrocytes, also play significant roles in bone health and function but are not directly associated with the mechanotransduction processes linked to stress surfaces in the same manner as osteoclasts. Osteoblasts are primarily involved in forming new bone and are more active during the buildup phase in response to stress, while fibroblasts are involved in the formation of connective tissue but do not play a