Learn more about your bones
Your individual risk calculator and tips for prevention
Press Release and Video Messages
A
to TopThe process of attenuation of the intensity of a beam of radiation which depends on the body being irradiated.
An enzyme that belongs to the hydrolase group and removes phosphate groups from many types of molecules. The optimal pH of alkaline phosphatase is pH7-8. In addition to osteocalcin, this enzyme is used as a biochemical marker for bone formation in laboratory diagnostics. Alkaline phosphatase is elevated in cases of bone disease.
Pathological absence of the menstrual period for more than 3 months.
Stimulator for new bone formation.
Medications that neutralize gastric acid; these usually contain aluminium, magnesium and calcium compounds.
Bone resorption inhibitor
B
to TopThe time the body needs to excrete half of a substance that has been ingested.
Synthetic versions of pyrophosphate, which occurs naturally in bone; they have high bone affinity.
A sample of bone tissue is removed using a special needle for cytological and histological examinations of the bone marrow.
Mineral content of bone.
Bone density
Small areas of bony tissue consisting of osteoblasts and osteoclasts which work together to carry out bone remodelling.
C
to TopA polypeptide consisting of 32 amino acids, which is generated by the C cells of the thyroid gland. It is a regulatory constituent of the calcium metabolism and acts to lower calcium through increased calcium deposits in the bone, reduced release of calcium from the bones, reduced calcium uptake from the gut and elevated renal excretion of calcium.
The primary regulatory hormone in calcium metabolism. It increases the calcium level via increased calcium uptake from the gut into the blood, and has a negative influence on the release of PTH.
Tiny canals in bone that connect the central canal and the lamellae in which the osteocytes are located.
The core of the bone in which small blood vessels and nerve fibers are located.
Blockage of bile flow.
Long-term study of a group of patients or participants and their experiences with a particular substance. Often used when studying epidemiological issues.
A fibrous protein which forms the main constituent of connective tissue, cartilage and bone. There are different types of collagen (Type I is found primarily in bone).
The willingness of a patient to follow instructions for treatment. It is an important parameter in the evaluation of a treatment.
this figure shows how close the result is to the "actual" difference between two groups.
Also known as compact bone. External cortical (compact) bone tissue responsible for the optimal mechanical properties with minimal weight (approximately 8 kg in adults).
A dysfunction caused by excessive secretion of corticosteroids by the adrenal glands.
D
to TopA degradation product of collagen used as a marker for bone resorption in laboratory diagnostics.
Applies to the design of a study: neither the physician nor the participant knows who is receiving what medication.
DXA is the most commonly used method worldwide of measuring bone density. It is a two-dimensional process for the selective determination of the bone mineral content (inorganic material) within an organic body.
E
to TopBony connective tissue on the inside of a bone.
The application of treatments based on the results of high-quality clinical studies.
F
to TopAfter oral intake of a drug, the drug initially passes through the liver before it is distributed in the systemic circulation. The substance is thus subjected to increased metabolic degradation.
One of the anabolics. Stimulates osteoblast division and matrix synthesis, but also causes undesirable mineralization defects.
H
to TopCentral canal
The production of blood cells in the body
Hormone replacement therapy. Application of hormones (usually estrogens and their derivatives) to prevent and treat osteoporosis.
A mineral salt that consists primarily of calcium phosphates and forms lattice-like crystals.
Hyperfunction of the parathyroid gland
Hyperfunction of the thyroid gland which can cause osteoporosis through an increase in the bone remodelling rate.
I
to TopAn illness which arises without any discernible cause
Number of new cases of an illness.
International unit. The amount of a vitamin or an enzyme required to act on 1 μmol substrate within one minute.
K
to TopGreek "kyphos" = bowed, so-called "widow's hump".
L
to TopSmall spaces containing osteocytes in bones.
Concentrically arranged tubules.
M
to TopStart of the first menstruation during puberty
Deposit of crystalline salts in bones (primarily calcium and phosphates).
O
to TopSubstance that triggers protein synthesis.
Substance that blocks protein synthesis and subsequent effects of the oestrogen compound.
Steroid hormones. They are produced primarily in the ovaries and act on the reproductive system and on numerous other body systems such as the skeletal system, breasts, the cardiovascular system and the brain. The most important natural estrogens are oestradiol, oestrone and oestriol.
Cells which are responsible for bone formation.
A protein produced by osteoblasts which is found in the extracellular matrix of bone and in the serum. The determination of this protein in the serum is a marker for osteoblast activity and enables an assessment of the bone growth rate.
Cells which are responsible for bone resorption.
Cells responsible for cellular communication, supply and calcium metabolism.
Primary constituent of bone, consisting of proteins (mainly collagen).
Suspected mineral deficiency resulting from the inadequate mineralization of bones in adults; corresponds to rickets in children.
Extended cylinder made up of a group of concentrically arranged tubules (lamellae).
A reduction in bone mineral density that leads to a reduction in bone density with increasing age. Spongy bone is more strongly affected than cortical bone.
P
to TopOsteitis deformans, localized osteopathy. The number and activity of the osteoclasts is elevated, which leads to accelerated bone resorption with secondary formation of undermineralized fibrous bone, which is more highly vascularised and reduces load-bearing capacity. The result is deformation and fractures of the affected bones.
Primary regulatory hormone in calcium metabolism. Causes an increase in calcium via increased bone resorption, reduced calcium excretion in the kidneys and stimulates the formation of calcitriol.
Optimal bone mass developed by approximately 30 years of age.
A membrane that lines the outer surface of all bones.
Applies to the design of a study: the participant is given an ineffective treatment that looks and tastes exactly like the real treatment. This is used as a control to determine whether a measured effect is truly an effect of the treatment.
Frequency of an illness in a particular population.
Applies to the design of a study: anticipatory; participants in a study are divided into groups with different treatments before the therapeutic effect appears.
A coagulation factor which is important for clotting of the blood.
The time required for blood to clot after a substance has been added.
Blood clot which has broken loose and moved to the lungs.
R
to TopPatients are randomly distributed among different treatment groups so that all groups are similar on the average. This facilitates avoiding a distortion of the study results.
Continuous bone remodelling. The purpose of this is to adapt the skeleton to various stress situations and loads, to repair damage and to regulate the calcium level. The functional adaptation and repair of damaged bone is done via bone resorption and subsequent bone formation.
A blood clot in the veins of the eye.
Applies to the design of a study: looking back (e.g. analysis of existing data from patient files).
S
to TopOsteoporosis caused by the general aging process.
Selective estrogen receptor modulator
Also known as cancellous bone or trabecular bone. Contains bone marrow and is responsible for optimal mechanical properties with minimal weight (approximately 8 kg in adults).
Measure of the deviation of individual measured values of a measuring sequence in their arithmetic mean.
T
to TopNumber of standard deviations by which the measured value deviates from the mean of young, healthy adults of the same gender around 30 years of age (at the time of peak bone mass).
Inflammation of the venous wall which accompanies a thrombosis.
Blood clot formation within blood vessels, primarily in veins.
A thyroid hormone which influences the calcium metabolism and increases the remodelling rate (similar to hyperthyroidism).
Small plate-like pieces formed from irregularly arranged lamellae and connected with each other in a lattice-like structure.
The bony prominence below the neck of the femur. There is the greater trochanter (T. major) and the lesser trochanter (T. minor).
V
to TopPerforated canals which run at right angles to the bony axis. They connect nerves and blood vessels of the Haversian systems with those on the outside and inside of the bone.
W
to TopA small area that connects the trochanter, intertrochanter and neck of the femur.
Z
to TopNumber of standard deviations by which the mean value deviates from the mean of the age standard; defined as Z = (measured value minus the mean of the same-age reference group)/standard deviation of the same-age reference group.
