Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "osteoclast" wani nau'i ne na kwayar halitta wanda ke rushe nama na kashi, yana ba da damar sake fasalin da kuma sake fasalin ƙasusuwan yayin girma da gyaran jiki a cikin jiki. An samo kalmar daga kalmomin Helenanci "osteo," ma'ana kashi, da "klastos," ma'ana karye ko lalacewa. Osteoclasts suna taka muhimmiyar rawa a cikin metabolism na kashi kuma suna da alhakin resorption na nama na kasusuwa, wanda ya zama dole don kiyaye lafiyar ƙashi da ƙarfi.