Final answer:
The function of calcium salts in bone is to provide hardness and strength to the bone structure. Calcium is necessary for muscle contraction, enzyme activity, blood coagulation, and neurotransmitter release. Bone tissue serves as a mineral reserve, absorbing and releasing minerals as needed for mineral homeostasis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of calcium salts in bone is to provide hardness and strength to the bone structure. Calcium along with phosphate constitutes the mineral part of the skeleton and teeth, making up about 99% of the total calcium in the body. These calcium salts, primarily in the form of hydroxyapatite crystals, give bones their rigidity, while collagen fibers provide flexibility.
In addition to providing skeletal integrity, calcium ions, essential for muscle contraction and enzyme activity, are necessary for processes like blood coagulation, stabilizing cell membranes, and neurotransmitter release.
Bone tissue also serves as a mineral reserve for calcium and other minerals needed for the normal functioning of the body. When blood levels of minerals are too high, bones absorb and store them as mineral salts. Conversely, when blood levels are low, bones release minerals back into the blood, maintaining mineral homeostasis.