osteoclast

1. A large multinucleate cell found in growing bone that resorbs bony tissue, as in the formation of canals and cavities.
2. An instrument used in surgical osteoclasis.

Origin:

Origin: osteo-

Origin: + Medieval Latin -clastēs, breaker (from Late Greek -klastēs, from Greek klastos, broken, from klān, to break)

Related Forms:

• osˌte·o·clasˈtic adjective