Although questions remain about what regulates this process, the change is marked by the formation of dendrites . These osteocyte dendrites form a network to communicate with other osteocytes and bone cells. This network may contribute to the 25-year lifespan of osteocytes, which are the longest-living bone cells . The roles of osteocytes in the bone remodeling process are relatively recent discoveries, as these cells were initially considered inert .