Which type of bone growth occurs in areas of tension and involves osteoblasts as precursor cells?

The correct answer is appositional growth. This type of bone growth occurs when new bone tissue is added to the surface of existing bone, which is particularly important in areas of tension, such as where muscles exert force on bones. Osteoblasts, which are specialized bone cells, play a crucial role in this process by synthesizing new bone material and facilitating the increase in bone width and structural strength.

Appositional growth allows bones to adapt to mechanical stresses, ensuring that they can withstand the forces they encounter in everyday activities and during physical exertion. This growth method contrasts with intramembranous growth, which primarily occurs during the initial formation of flat bones and is characterized by the direct transformation of mesenchymal tissue into bone, rather than in response to mechanical strain.