Final answer:
Osteoclasts are cells involved in bone resorption and dissolving minerals in the bone matrix. They play a key role in the ongoing balance between bone resorption and bone formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Osteoclasts are cells involved in bone resorption, or breakdown. They are responsible for dissolving the minerals in the bone matrix, which are then released into the blood. Osteoclasts are large, multinucleated cells that originate from monocytes and macrophages, not from osteogenic cells. They play a key role in the ongoing balance between bone resorption and bone formation, which is necessary for the constant reshaping of bone.