Osteocytes are present in the

Options

A. cartilage
B. bone
C. notochord
D. periosteum

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Osteocytes:**
- Osteocytes are specialized bone cells that are crucial for maintaining bone tissue. They are the longest-living cells in bone and account for a significant portion of the bone's cellular makeup.

2. **Analyzing the Options:**
- The question asks where osteocytes are present. We need to evaluate each option provided.

3. **Option 1: Cartilage**
- Cartilage is a type of connective tissue composed of cells called chondrocytes. Since osteocytes are not found in cartilage, this option is incorrect.

4. **Option 2: Bone**
- Bone is a rigid connective tissue that contains several types of cells, including osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteocytes. Osteocytes make up about 90-95% of the cells in bone. Therefore, this option is correct.

5. **Option 3: Notochord**
- The notochord is a flexible rod-like structure found in embryonic development, primarily made up of mesodermal cells. Osteocytes are not present in the notochord, making this option incorrect.

6. **Option 4: Periosteum**
- The periosteum is a connective tissue layer that covers the outer surface of bones and contains progenitor cells that can develop into osteoblasts. However, it does not contain osteocytes, so this option is also incorrect.

7. **Conclusion:**
- After evaluating all the options, we conclude that osteocytes are present in bone. Thus, the correct answer is **Option 2: Bone**.

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