anatomy 8.5

What happens to skeletal mass and density as we age?

They decline.

What happens to bone erosion and porosity as we age?

They increase.

What condition may result from the loss of bone mass and density?

Osteoporosis.

How do aging bones change?

They become more brittle and more susceptible to fractures.

What happens to the articulating surfaces of bones with age?

They deteriorate.

The deterioration of articulating surfaces contributes to what condition?

Osteoarthritis.

Between what ages do most epiphyseal plates fuse?

Between 10 and 25 years of age.

When do degenerative skeletal changes, such as reduced mineral content, usually begin?

During middle age.

At about what age does measurable calcium loss begin in genetic males?

Around age 45.

At about what age may measurable calcium loss begin in some genetic females?

As early as age 35.

Which part of the hip bone is commonly used to estimate a skeleton's age at death?

The pubic symphysis.

How does the pubic symphysis change with age?

Teens–early 20s: Roughened or billowed surface Afterward: Surface flattens and loses billowing 30s–40s: Develops a well-defined rim Older age: Develops concavities and arthritic changes.