The need for tissue engineering

Osteoporosis

The importance of calcium

  • Over 99% of the body's Ca is in the form of hydroxyapatite
  • In addition to supporting the body the skeleton is a storage depot for Ca
  • Ca can be added to or removed from the skeleton to keep the blood level at the correct value
  • Half the serum Ca is ionized (divalent cation), the rest is bound to proteins
  • Secretion of hormones into blood and release of transmitters in synapses requires proper level of ionized serum Ca
  • Contraction of skeletal and heart muscle requires flow of ionized Ca into cytoplasm
  • Ca is also one of the second messengers

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