Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

©2018 of 131 bones due to coughing or bending can easily lead to the fracturing of bones. These fractures are prominent in the hips, spine, and wrist. Osteoporosis generally occurs when the speed of the formation of new bones is not able to match up with the removal of old bones. Generally, the bone- building cycle is fast and healthy in youth, and its pace is reduced with the rise in age. It is characterized by the bone mass peak attained by the individual, which normally happens in the early twenties. The person who has a higher peak bone mass is less likely to develop osteoporosis and vice- versa. There are no signs and symptoms of osteoporosis in the initial stages, but as the disorder progresses, one tends to suffer from pain in the back due to a collapsed or fractured vertebra, loss of height over time, stooped posture, and easily fractured bones. Osteomalacia Osteomalacia is a disorder of the bone characterized by the deficiency of vitamin D in the body leading to the softening of bones. These softened bones tend to bow and fracture more often than normal, hard bones. It is generally caused due to impairment in the bone-building process. The bone-building process is healthy when the body has a sufficient amount of minerals, like calcium and phosphate. Osteomalacia may happen due to a deficiency of vitamin D, inadequate exposure to sunlight, certain surgeries like the removal of part of the stomach (gastrectomy) or bypassing of small intestine, celiac disease, disorders of the kidney or liver, and intake of drugs like phenytoin and phenobarbital. There are no symptoms in the early stage of osteomalacia, but in later stages the affected person experiences pain in the bones and weakness in muscles. The pain mostly affects the lower back, pelvis, hips, ribs, and legs. This pain gets worse due to the accumulation of fat on affected bones and is more prominent at night time. Rickets Rickets is the bone disorder that mostly affects children and is characterized by the weakening and softening of bones. It generally happens due to extreme deficiency of vitamin D for a long period. A child suffering from rickets will have such a low vitamin D level that the adequate amount of calcium and phosphorus in bones from the gastrointestinal tract is not absorbed in the body. Rickets is primarily caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, which is present in two sources: sunlight and food items like fish oils, fatty fish, and egg yolks. It is also causedwhen the body has adequate exposure to vitamin D but it is not able to absorb it due to the presence of celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis, and kidney problems. Signs and symptoms of rickets include delayed growth, pain in the spine, legs, and pelvis, weakness in the muscles, and skeletal deformities like bowed legs, thickened wrists and ankles, and projection of the breastbone. Trauma Bone trauma, also known as broken bones or fractures, usually happens due to accidents or falls and are very painful. Bone fracturing can be complete or partial. It normally happens when the force exerted on the bone is higher than the strength of the bone. These are more common in childhood and with advanced age. In childhood, the bones are more brittle, and in old age, people become frail, making them more prone to trip and fall; elderly people may develop disorders like osteoporosis, which enhances the risk of bone traumas. Signs and symptoms of fractures include swelling or Achieve Page 107