Final answer:
A) osteocytes
The term for mature bone cells is osteocytes, which are the primary cells responsible for maintaining the bone matrix and originate from osteoblasts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for mature bone cells is osteocytes. Osteocytes are the primary cells in bone tissue and are responsible for maintaining the bone matrix. They originate from osteoblasts, which are cells that create new bone material during growth and remodeling. Once the osteoblasts become trapped in the matrix they've created, they differentiate into osteocytes. Osteocytes are found in spaces called lacunae within the bone and can no longer divide. They play a crucial role in recycling the mineral content of the bone, which is essential for maintaining bone strength and health.
Other cell types involved in bone tissue include osteoclasts, which break down bone for remodeling and calcium regulation, and osteoprogenitor cells, which are stem cells that differentiate into osteoblasts.