The bone lining cell: a distinct phenotype?

Abstract

It is argued that the flat cells that line nonremodeling endosteal bone surfaces are a distinct phenotype. These cells have a distinct morphology and they most likely have important functional roles in skeletal physiology, metabolism, and remodeling. For these reasons this cell seems deserving of a proper name. The name bone lining cell seems to have gained some acceptance but there will be continued confusion as long as skeletologists use this same term to generically describe cells that line bone surfaces, regardless of their actual identity.