Osteoblasts · Histology

Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) affects osteoblast function primarily by:

  1. Preventing the synthesis of alkaline phosphatase
  2. Killing all osteoprogenitor cells
  3. Increasing the rate of bone resorption
  4. Inhibiting proline hydroxylation in collagen
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Correct answer: Inhibiting proline hydroxylation in collagen

Vitamin C is a required cofactor for the enzymes that hydroxylate amino acids in procollagen. Without it, osteoblasts produce defective collagen that cannot form stable triple helices, leading to impaired bone formation.

Difficulty: Medium Question 13 of 20

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