Final answer:
Pre-osteoblasts are derived from mesenchymal stem cells found in the embryonic skeleton. These cells are specialized to form various types of connective tissue, including bone, which entails the differentiation process from osteogenic cells to osteoblasts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pre-osteoblasts develop from mesenchymal stem cells that are found in the embryonic skeleton. These cells have the ability to differentiate into a variety of specialized cells. During the process of bone formation, mesenchymal stem cells aggregate and some of these cells will become osteogenic cells and subsequently differentiate into pre-osteoblasts and then mature osteoblasts, crucial for bone formation and repair. Osteogenic cells are unique among bone cells as they are the only ones capable of cell division, giving rise to osteoblasts, which help lay down new bone material.
Differentiation into pre-osteoblasts is part of a hierarchical system within stem cells where some have a more broad potential for differentiation, such as pluripotent and totipotent stem cells. These stem cells give rise to all types of human tissue or even an entire organism, respectively. However, as stem cells become more specialized, such as mesenchymal cells, they lose the ability to differentiate into as many cell types. Mesenchymal cells, therefore, become dedicated to forming types of connective tissue, including bone.