Osteoinduction is best described as which process?

• A. Cells within grafting material are converted into bone-forming cells to form the new bone
• B. Providing a scaffold for the growth of new bone
• C. Directly substituting bone with implants
• D. Stimulation of cartilage formation

Answer: (A)

Osteoinduction refers to the process where signaling molecules in a graft material recruit and induce precursor cells to become osteoblasts, kick-starting new bone formation. In practice, this means the graft provides osteoinductive cues that convert nearby progenitor cells into bone-forming cells, which then lay down new bone. That aligns with the description of cells within the graft material being transformed into bone-forming cells to form new bone.

This is distinct from osteoconduction, which is about providing a scaffold that guides bone growth but doesn’t actively induce the formation of new bone. It’s also different from directly substituting bone with implants, which is a mechanical replacement rather than a biological induction, and from stimulation of cartilage formation, which relates to chondrogenesis rather than bone formation.