33.1 Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB, and osteoprotegerin Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK) ligand (RANKL) is tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily ligand 11…
24.1 Introduction Women spend about one-third of their life span in the postmenopausal period. Menopause represents a vulnerable time in a women’s life for a number of reasons, but in…
28.1 Introduction The clinical significance of osteoporosis is in its outcome of fracture. Fracture is not a benign condition, particularly in the aging population where it occurs most frequently, and…
15.1 Introduction and background The mineralized bones of the skeleton are critical to load bearing and locomotion of vertebrates. The structure of the tissue within the bones is well suited…
19.1 Introduction In this chapter, we first address some of the problems inherent in using a racial classification system for describing human variation. We then describe variations in bone and…
23.1 Introduction Risk of osteoporosis and fracture in older women is, in large part, related to the woman’s bone mineral density (BMD) ; however, the predisposition to osteoporosis and fracture…
26.1 Introduction Falls are one of the most common health concerns facing older adults today. About one-third of community-dwelling persons over the age of 65 years and nearly one-half of…
27.1 Physical characteristics 27.1.1 Gender For most types of osteoporosis-related fractures, women are at greater risk than men . In a worldwide study of fractures in 2000, there were 9.0…
16.1 Introduction Age-related fractures represent an immense and increasing public health issue. In the United States in 2005, there were an estimated 2 million age-related fractures, with associated medical expenditures…
20.1 Introduction Osteoporosis, a disease of old age, is documented to date back to the Bronze age . The demographic explosion, increased life expectancy, global urbanization, and the obesity epidemic…
