skip banner - Return to original view
site viewing options
 
Parents|Medical Information|Professionals|In your area|Campaigns

Osteoporosis (Adult)

Background

Osteoporosis literally means 'porous bones.' The bones in the skeleton are made of a thick outer shell and a strong inner mesh filled with collagen (protein), calcium salts and other minerals. The inside looks like honeycomb, with blood vessels and bone marrow in the spaces between bone. Osteoporosis occurs when the holes between bone become bigger, making it fragile and liable to break easily. Osteoporosis usually affects the whole skeleton but it most commonly causes breaks (fractures) to bones in the wrist, spine and hip.

What are the cause? View What are the cause?

Medical text written November 2000 by the National Osteoporosis Society. Approved November 2000 by Professor Anthony Woolf, Consultant Rheumatologist, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro UK. Last updated May 2005 by Professor D M Reid, Professor of Rheumatology, University of Aberdeen Medical School, Aberdeen, UK.

 

Tell us what you think of this information...

Print whole article Print whole article

 

This Web Site © Copyright, Contact a Family 2008
Contact a Family, 209-211 City Road, London EC1V 1JN
Tel: (020) 7608 8700

Registered Charity No. 284912. Charity registered in Scotland No. SC039169
Company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales No. 1633333.
HM Revenue & Customs charity tax reference No. XN54769. VAT Reg. No. GB 749 3846 82