Cartilage is a flexible, avascular connective tissue. It is less flexible than muscle, but softer and more flexible than bone. These properties make it an ideal candidate for joints, providing a medium between the muscles and bones that enact forces on the joint. Cartilage is found on the epiphyses of long bones and between certain bones, such as vertebrae, to cushion the motion of the joints.

Due to its avascular nature, cartilage does not easily regenerate. It is formed by chondroblasts (cartilage cells) in a chondrin matrix. In endochondral ossification, cartilage can be used as a precursor to bone, but will never be formed as a result of bone breakdown. Finally, there are three types of cartilage: elastic cartilage, hyaline cartilage, and fibrous cartilage.

Thin layers of cartilage cells in the epiphyseal plate enable the diaphysis (bone shaft) to grow in length. The epiphyseal line forms when growth stops and ossification occurs, permanently fusing the diaphysis and epiphysis.

The periosteum is a tough connective tissue sheath that covers the outer surface of bones. The medullary cavity is a hollow cylinder inside the diaphysis. The medullary cavity contains bone marrow, which contains blood cells in different stages of development. The Haversian canals perforate bony structure and contain blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves. 

Osteoclasts are bone cells that are responsible for resorbing—or breaking down—bone tissue. Osteoblasts, on the other hand, deposit bone tissue.

Cartilage is not a type of bone cell at all; it is a type of connective tissue consisting of chondrocytes suspended in an avascular matrix. Lacunae are small cavities within the bone matrix that house osteocytes; osteocytes are mature bone cells.

Osteoclasts dissolve bony matrix and repatriate calcium as the bone grows. This expands the meduallary cavity and maintains a manageable mass for the bones, while allowing the body to recycle valuable calcium deposits.

Osteoytes, the long-lived star-shaped cells found in established bones, are primarily found within Haversian systems—the target-shaped tubes of bone matrix. They are encased in a bubble of interstitial fluid known as a lacuna.

Longitudinal bone growth occurs at the epiphyseal plate through the process of endochondral ossification. Cartilage cells undergo rapid mitosis in this region forming the structure that is later replaced by bone tissue.

Intramembranous ossification is the process in which bones are formed within dermal tissue. This process is responsible for forming the flat bones of the skull, as well as the clavicle. Other bones of the body are formed by the process of endochondral ossification, in which cartilage is replaced by bone tissue.

Bones consist of two types of cells that regulate bone growth: osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Osteoblasts lay down collagen and other important organic substances that are required to synthesize bone tissue, whereas osteoclasts reabsorb existing bone tissue. The activity of both cells is important for repair, growth, and maintenance of bone tissue.

Note that a third type of cell, osteocytes, is also found in bone, but does not play as much of an active role in maintaining bone structure.

The question states that the unknown hormone has the opposite effect of parathyroid hormone. Recall that parathyroid hormone functions to increase blood calcium levels; therefore, this unknown hormone must decrease blood calcium levels.

When blood calcium levels increase due to parathyroid hormone, osteoclasts in bones break down the bone matrix and release the calcium into the blood. This means the activity of the unknown hormone must inhibit the activity of osteoclasts to decrease blood calcium levels. This hormone is most likely released to prevent bone loss.

The unknown hormone in this question would most likely be calcitonin. Calcitonin decreases blood calcium levels and is very important in menopausal and pregnant women who have a higher risk of having excessive bone loss.

The question states that the cell is breaking down its nuclear membrane. Recall that the nuclear membrane is broken down during prophase of mitosis or prophase I of meiosis; therefore, the cell must be undergoing either mitosis or meiosis. One of the key characteristics of osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts is that they do not undergo mitosis. Also, remember that only germ cells undergo meiosis. Since the observed cell is undergoing a division, the researcher can conclude that the cell is not an osteoblast or an osteoclast.

Osteogenic cells, however, can undergo mitosis. Osteogenic cells are cells that differentiate into osteoblasts. Once differentiated, the osteogenic cells can no longer undergo mitosis.