Chapter 15: Bone Health and Body Defense Systems

These flashcards cover key concepts related to bone health and body defense systems, including essential nutrients, their functions, and the mechanisms involved in maintaining bone integrity.

Calcium

Essential mineral needed for bone and tooth development, with 99% found in bones and teeth.

Osteoblasts

Cells that build bone, produce collagen, and add minerals to create healthy bones.

Osteoclasts

Cells that dissolve bone, stimulated by vitamin D activation to release calcium into the bloodstream.

Vitamin D

Fat-soluble vitamin that helps maintain blood calcium and phosphorus levels, and is synthesized with exposure to sunlight.

Phosphorus

Essential mineral required by every cell in the body, important for bone structure and energy production.

Antioxidants

Substances that protect the body by neutralizing free radicals and regulating their activity.

Vitamin E

Essential fat-soluble vitamin with antioxidant activity that protects cell membranes.

Vitamin C

Essential water-soluble vitamin important for immune function, collagen synthesis, and antioxidant activity.

Osteoporosis

Bone disease caused by calcium deficiency leading to bone loss over time, increasing fracture risk.

Magnesium

Mineral that helps stabilize ATP, aids in bone structure, and is involved in fluid balance and nerve function.

Fluoride

Nonessential trace mineral that supports calcium and phosphorus deposits in teeth and bones.

Free radicals

Unstable compounds that can damage cells, which antioxidants work to neutralize.

Scurvy

Vitamin C deficiency characterized by fatigue and bleeding gums.

Carotenoids

Precursors to vitamin A that are suggested to have functions that lower disease risk.

Cancer

Abnormal and uncontrolled division of altered cells, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

Bone density

Compact versus spongy bone, with compact being the outer, dense shell, and spongy adding strength without weight.

Calcitonin

Hormone involved in regulating blood calcium concentration.

Parathyroid hormone

Hormone involved in regulating blood calcium concentration.

Vitamin K

Nutrient important for bone health and dietary prevention of osteoporosis.