Final answer:
The cell that breaks down bone is an osteoclast, working in conjunction with osteoblasts and osteocytes to maintain and remodel bone tissue. The answer is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cell found in bone that breaks it down is called an osteoclast. Osteoclasts are critical for bone remodeling and health, as they are responsible for resorbing, or breaking down, bone tissue. They achieve this by dissolving the minerals in bone, primarily calcium, and releasing them into the bloodstream, a process that is essential for maintaining proper calcium levels in the body and for the continuous remodeling of bone. They are multinucleated cells that originate from monocytes and macrophages, which are types of white blood cells, and are usually found on the bone surface.
Osteoclasts work in balance with osteoblasts, which are the cells responsible for forming new bone. Osteoblasts deposit bone material into the matrix, and after they are surrounded by this matrix, they become less metabolically active and differentiate into osteocytes, which are mature bone cells that maintain the bone matrix. The coordinated actions of these bone cells are essential for bone growth, repair, and maintenance of bone strength and mineral homeostasis.