Osteoporosis, Overview

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Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural disruption. A decrease in bone mass occurs without a defect in bone mineralization, distinguishing osteoporosis from osteomalacia, which is characterized by a defect in mineralization. The disruption of the normal architecture is characterized by thinning and loss of trabecular elements and decreased bony connectivity coupled with progressive thinning of the cortical shell. Osteoporosis thus results in weakened bone strength, which increases the risk of fracture. Peak bone mass is achieved by men and women in the middle of the third decade of life. The World Health Organization defines osteoporosis on the basis of the number of standard deviations below the peak adult bone mass.

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