Which of the following characteristics applies to the cells known as osteoclasts?

• A. They are multinucleated cells responsible for bone resorption.
• B. They form tight junctions to prevent paracellular transport.
• C. They produce collagen fibers for bone matrix formation.
• D. They are involved in the synthesis of myelin in the nervous system.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by identifying the term 'osteoclasts' and its biological function. Osteoclasts are specialized cells involved in the breakdown and resorption of bone tissue.
2. Step 2: Understand the process of bone resorption. Osteoclasts secrete enzymes and acids that dissolve the mineral matrix and collagen in bone, allowing for the recycling of calcium and phosphate.
3. Step 3: Analyze the characteristic 'multinucleated cells responsible for bone resorption.' Osteoclasts are indeed multinucleated, as they form by the fusion of precursor cells, and their primary role is bone resorption.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the other options provided. Tight junctions are typically associated with epithelial cells, not osteoclasts. Collagen production is a function of osteoblasts, not osteoclasts. Myelin synthesis is related to Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes in the nervous system, not osteoclasts.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct characteristic of osteoclasts is 'They are multinucleated cells responsible for bone resorption,' based on their structure and function in the skeletal system.