Bone mass density

Bone mass density (BMD) is a measure of the amount of minerals, mainly calcium, in a certain volume of bone. BMD is used in medical diagnostics to assess conditions such as osteoporosis and osteopenia, which are characterized by a decrease in bone mass and an increased risk of bone fractures.

Measurement

BMD is most commonly measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). This non-invasive procedure uses low-dose X-rays to differentiate between bone and soft tissue, allowing for the calculation of bone mineral content. Other methods of measuring BMD include quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and quantitative ultrasound (QUS), though these are less commonly used.

Factors affecting BMD

Several factors can affect BMD, including age, sex, genetic factors, and lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity. Hormones also play a crucial role in bone mass density. For example, the decrease in estrogen levels in women after menopause can lead to a decrease in BMD.

Clinical significance

A low BMD can indicate osteoporosis or osteopenia, conditions that increase the risk of bone fractures. BMD measurements are therefore used to assess fracture risk in individuals, particularly postmenopausal women and individuals with certain risk factors for osteoporosis. BMD is also used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for these conditions.

See also

• Osteoporosis
• Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
• Bone mineral

‎ ‎

---

Translate: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, தமிழ், తెలుగు, Urdu, ಕನ್ನಡ, Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, বাংলা
European español, Deutsch, français, Greek, português do Brasil, polski, română, русский, Nederlands, norsk, svenska, suomi, Italian
Middle Eastern & African عربى, Turkish, Persian, Hebrew, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Kiswahili,
Other Bulgarian, Hungarian, Czech, Swedish, മലയാളം, मराठी, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, ગુજરાતી, Portuguese, Ukrainian

‎ Template:Rheumatology-stub

‎