Osteoporosis Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards created from lecture notes on osteoporosis, covering key terms and definitions relevant to the subject.

Osteoporosis

A bone disorder characterized by low bone density, impaired bone architecture, compromised bone strength, and increased fracture risk.

BMD

Bone Mineral Density, the amount of bone mineral in bone tissue, the gold standard for diagnosis is central dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

FRAX

A tool for screening and diagnosing osteoporosis that calculates the probability of fractures over the next 10 years.

Antiresorptive agents

Medications that inhibit osteoclasts to prevent bone resorption and are used in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Osteoblasts

Cells responsible for bone formation, their activity decreases with age, contributing to bone density loss.

RANKL

Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand, a protein involved in bone remodeling, targeted by certain osteoporosis treatments.

Calcium

An essential mineral for bone health, with recommended dietary allowances varying by age and sex.

Vitamin D

A nutrient that helps increase calcium absorption and can decrease bone mineral density loss; deficiency is common in osteoporosis.

Morphology of bone

The structural characteristics of bone that impact its functionality and strength, influenced by factors like collagen and mineral content.

Sclerostin

A protein that inhibits bone formation; targeted by new osteoporosis therapies to enhance bone density.