Which cells are responsible for forming collagen fibers in bone tissue?

Osteoblasts are specialized bone cells that play a crucial role in the formation and mineralization of bone tissue. These cells are responsible for synthesizing and secreting the components of the bone's extracellular matrix, including collagen fibers. Collagen is essential for providing structural support and strength to the bone, as it helps create a framework that is later mineralized by the deposition of calcium phosphate crystals.

As osteoblasts operate, they build new bone and eventually become embedded in the matrix they produce, maturing into osteocytes. Osteocytes are involved in the maintenance of bone tissue but are not responsible for the production of collagen. Other cell types, like osteoclasts, are involved in the resorption and remodeling of bone, breaking down the matrix rather than forming it. Chondrocytes, on the other hand, are found in cartilage and are responsible for producing the cartilage-specific matrix, which includes collagen but is distinct from the processes occurring in bone tissue.