What is the function of osteoclasts?

Answer 1

The first answer is correct:

osteo = bone
clast = break, destroy

So, osteoclasts are responsible for the breakdown of bone, essentially.

Answer 2

Osteoclasts are cells originated by the fusion of blood cells, the monocytes.
Osteoclasts are giant cells, and may have many nucleus (at least, 6). It stays on the surface of the bones, and has the function to break an old area of the bone, letting the osteoblasts act, regenerating the area.
So, we can say that osteoclasts brake the bone, and osteoblasts regenerate the broken area.

Answer 3

The first two answers are correct, in addition the osteo clasts break down bone so osteo blasts can build new bone, ie..broken leg or arm, the inflamation and pain is a good thing once the bone is reset so the bone can refuse itself together, part of the bone is broken down by the osteo clasts, and is rebuilt by the osteoblasts.

osteoblast (from the Greek words for "bone" and "germ" or embryonic) is a mononucleate cell that produces osteoid, which is composed mainly of collagen. Bone is constantly being reshaped by osteoblasts, which build bone, and osteoclasts, which resorb bone.

Osteoblast also act on compact bone to store calcium in the matrix. This activity is controlled by hormones calcitonin and parathyroid hormone secreted by the thyroid and parathyroid endocrine glands.

Osteoblasts arise when osteoprogenitor cells (mesenchymal cells), which are located near all bony surfaces and within the bone marrow, differentiate under the influence of growth factors, such as fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and other bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs).

In addition to osteoid, osteoblasts also secrete enzymes that facilitate mineral deposition within osteoid matrices. They are also responsible for regulating the activity of osteoclasts via soluble mediators.

Answer 4

if memory serves me correctly, they breakdown/remodel bone.