Final answer:
Calcification is the process in which organic tissue becomes hardened by the deposition of mineral salts, primarily hydroxyapatite, particularly in bones and teeth, where it is essential for maintaining structure and strength.
Step-by-step explanation:
The combining form calc/i means calcium. Calcification is the process by which organic tissue becomes hardened by deposits of mineral salts, primarily including hydroxyapatite, a mineral formed from calcium phosphate.
Calcification normally occurs in bones and teeth; however, it is abnormal in soft tissue. For instance, the deposition of calcium in the walls of arteries leads to arteriosclerosis, which is an undesirable type of calcification.
Bone contains a small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of collagen fibers that provide a surface for inorganic salt crystals to adhere. These salt crystals form hydroxyapatite when calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate combine, and this subsequently crystallizes on the collagen fibers.
The process of calcification only occurs in the presence of collagen fibers, which give bones their durability and strength. Calcification is essential to the structure of the bones and teeth, as it renders them sturdy while maintaining flexibility.