Osteoclasts are unique bone resorptive cells, necessary for maintaining skeletal homeostasis. A relative excess of their activity however, often eventuates in the common disorder osteoporosis. Thus, understanding the means by which osteoclasts resorb bone carries both physiological and clinical significance.The magnitude of skeletal resorption reflects osteoclast number and the matrix-degrading capacity of the individual cell. Osteoclast abundance is governed by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor B ligand (RANKL) interacting with their respective receptors, c-fms and RANK, on monocyte/macrophage precursors. In fact, the two cytokines, in combination, are sufficient for osteoclast formation in vitro and in vivo.