What does an osteoblast look like?

Osteoblasts are bone-forming cells that typically appear as large, cuboidal or columnar-shaped cells. They have a prominent nucleus and a well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, which is indicative of their active role in protein synthesis. Osteoblasts often display a basophilic cytoplasm due to the presence of ribosomes and endoplasmic reticulum. When they become embedded in the bone matrix they produce, they eventually differentiate into osteocytes.