The human body is constantly replacing bone tissue, this is important in understanding osteoporosis. Bone remodeling is an ongoing cycle within our bones. This begins with the cells of the bones called osteoclasts, which break down the bone or resorption. Another type of cell within the bone called osteoblasts replace the area of the broken down bone with new bone (Lane 10). Bone mass is maintained by the balancing of bone remodeling.

The hormone estrogen maintains the normal rate of bone remodeling. During menopause in women estrogen levels fall. This causes bone resorption the become greater than bone formation. The result is great bone loss or osteoporosis. Not only is bone loss due to menopause, it is also caused by aging. The older we get, calcium absor

Many factors determine bone mass and risk of getting osteoporosis. Among them are age, sex, and race. African-Americans tend to have the highest bone mass. White people have the lowest, while Asian-Americans fall in the middle. Researchers do not know the reasons behind these facts. Although African-Americans do have larger mature bones. There has also been differences African-American and white children's bones. Aging African-American women do not tend to lose bone has fast than an elderly white women. Statistics show that mainly elderly, white women are at the greatest risk for osteoporosis. White women who live to 80 years old, suffer a 50 percent chance of having a bone fracture. However, only 13 percent of white males will have an osteoporotic fracture. Men often do not lose bone mass until after the age of 70.

ption becomes harder. Our bodies react by producing more parathyroid hormone, which takes calcium form our bones by resorption. This results in bone resorption to increase, while less bone is being replaced.

Genetics play an influential role in bone density. Our genes influence our peak bone mass and how much bone will be lost as we get older. Researchers found this to be true after studying twins' bone mass on their hip and spine. Studies were also done on daughters of women who have had osteopathic fractures. The daughters had less than normal bone mass for their age. Family history of osteoporosis is a good way to predict a person's risk of inheritance.

However, the Dual-Energy X-ray Abosptiometry can measure bone mass that is located in deeper bones. The patient lays flat on their back to have the machine scan their spine. A computer gives a report of the bone mineral content, the bone mineral density, and comparison of the patient's age group and to a healthy adult. The machine can also scan the hip, femur, and other areas.

The most recent method of diagnosing osteoporosis by reading a bone mass measurements results, is a fracture threshold. A fracture threshold is the cutoff point for bone mineral density to which most patients are at high risk for getting an osteoporotic fracture. The threshold depends on the

Some common words found in the essay are:
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