Index and definitions

[[+]] will link to a page with more details.

A

Actonel - A medicine used to treat osteoporosis. The chemical name is risedronate.

Alendronate - A medicine used to treat osteoporosis. The trade name is Fosamax.

Animations of bone remodeling - [[+]]

Athletes - and bone density [[+]]

B

Bisphosphonate - A kind of medicine used to treat many bone diseases. Bisphosphonates stop the action of osteoclasts.

C

Calcium - The most important mineral in the bones. [[+]]

Calcitonin - A hormone made by the thyroid gland that reduces activity of the osteoclasts, and thus can prevent calcium from being dissolved from the bones. It is used as a medicine to treat osteoporosis.

Calcitriol - An activated form of vitamin D that works on the intestines to increase amount of calcium getting into the blood. It is used as a medicine in some kinds of bone disease where the blood calcium is too low.

Cancellous bone - Another term for trabecular bone - [[+]]

Cells in bone - [[+]]

Cholecalciferol - The chemical name for vitamin D that is found in animals.

Cortical bone - The solid bone that is on the outside of bones. [[+]]

D

E

Estrogen - The female sex hormone that is important to develop bone strength. [[+]]

Exercise - Important to increase bone strength. [[+]]

Evista The brand name for raloxifene, a medicine used to treat osteoporosis.

F

Fluoride - An element that increases bone density but large amounts makes bone more brittle. Tiny amounts make teeth stronger.

Fractures - Broken bones. [[+]]

Fosamax - The brand name for alendronate, a medicine used to treat osteoproosis.

G

H

Histology - Science of how cells look under the microscope. [[+]]

I

Interleukins - Chemicals made by cells in the bone marrow or by osteoblasts, which have many actions. Some of them cause increased bone resorption.

Insulin-like growth factor - A hormone that is made by osteoblasts or other cells, which can make the bone cells more active.

IGF - Abbreviation for Insulin-like growth factor.

J

K

L

M

N

O

Osteoblasts - Cells that make bone. [[+]]

Osteoclasts - Cells that dissolve bone. [[+]]

Osteocytes - Cells in the inside of bone. [[+]]

Osteodystrophy - A general term that means bone disease caused by disease of another organ, such as the kidney.

Osteomalacia - A bone disease seen when there is not enough calcium and vitamin D for the bones, so the bones are soft without enough mineral. In children this is called rickets.

Osteopenia - Bone density that is mild to moderately low, compared to somebody aged 25.

Osteoporosis - A bone disease where bone density is very low and persons get fractures (broken bones) easily. [[+]]

Osteoprotegerin - A chemical made by osteoblasts that will bind (stick to) RANK-ligand and so prevent osteoclasts from getting activated. It has potential for treating osteoporosis and other bone diseases.

P

Parathyroid hormone - A hormone, made by 4 small glands in the neck, that controls the level of calcium in the blood. Bone disease is seen if this is too high. If it is too low, the blood calcium is low and muscles get cramps. Daily shots of synthetic parathyroid hormone might be useful to treat osteoporosis.

Phosphate - A major mineral in bone, in combination with calcium. Persons with low phosphate in the blood can get soft bones.

PTH - Abbreviation for parathyroid hormone.

Q

R

Raloxifene - A medicine used to treat osteoporosis, the brand name is Evista. It acts like estrogen on the bone.

RANK - The name of a receptor on osteoclasts that responds to chemical messages from osteoblasts to make the cells large and active.

RANK-ligand - A chemical made by osteoblasts that activates osteoclasts.

Remodeling - [[+]]

Resorption - Dissolving of bone, done by osteoclasts.

Rickets - A bone disease in children where bones don't have enough mineral, usually caused by low vitamin D levels. Often children have bowed legs.

Risedronate A medicine used to treat osteoporosis and other bone diseases, the brand name is Actonil.

S

SERM - Abbreviation for Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators. These are new medications which act like estrogen on the bones. They can help prevent osteoporosis.

Smoking - Harmful effects on bone. [[+]]

Spongy bone - another term for trabecular bone. [[+]]

Structure of bone - [[+]]

T

T-score - A result from a bone density test that compares a person to an average person aged 25 years. This uses a statistical unit called the standard deviation

Testosterone - The male hormone that is important to bone and muscle strength. [[+]]

Thyroid hormone - A hormone made by a gland in the neck that controls energy and helps to control growth. Too much thyroid can cause bone loss.

Trabecular bone - The kind of bone inside bones, that is like scaffolding or a honeycomb. [[+]]

U

V

Vitamin D [[+]]

W

X

Y

Z

Z-score - A measurement on a bone density test that tells how different a person is from an average person the same age. This uses a statistical unit called a standard deviation.

Updated 9/20/01