Which term describes bone graft materials that actively recruit cells to become bone-forming cells?

Which term describes bone graft materials that actively recruit cells to become bone-forming cells?

• A. Osteoinductive
• B. Osteoconductive
• C. Osteogenic
• D. Osteomyelitic

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is how graft materials influence cell behavior to form bone. Materials that actively recruit progenitor cells and induce them to become osteoblasts are described as osteoinductive. They release signaling factors—like bone morphogenetic proteins—that attract undifferentiated mesenchymal cells and drive their differentiation into bone-forming cells, enabling new bone formation even in areas with little native bone. Osteoconductive materials, by contrast, provide a scaffold for bone growth from surrounding tissue but don’t actively signal or recruit cells. Osteogenic grafts contain living bone-forming cells themselves. Osteomyelitic is not a graft property. Therefore, osteoinductive best fits “actively recruit cells to become bone-forming cells.”

The concept being tested is how graft materials influence cell behavior to form bone. Materials that actively recruit progenitor cells and induce them to become osteoblasts are described as osteoinductive. They release signaling factors—like bone morphogenetic proteins—that attract undifferentiated mesenchymal cells and drive their differentiation into bone-forming cells, enabling new bone formation even in areas with little native bone.

Osteoconductive materials, by contrast, provide a scaffold for bone growth from surrounding tissue but don’t actively signal or recruit cells. Osteogenic grafts contain living bone-forming cells themselves. Osteomyelitic is not a graft property. Therefore, osteoinductive best fits “actively recruit cells to become bone-forming cells.”