Osteoporosis

Marisa

Scenario A

1- Bones are dense and provide support and structure to the body. Bone will be one of two types; compact which is dense and tough, or spongy which is not as dense and more flexible. Bones contain osteocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts. Osteocytes exist in the lacuna. Osteocytes primary goal is bone deposition and reabsorption. They are secreted by osteobalsts. Osteocytes send messages to other osteocytes when any kind of damage or stress has come to the bone through physical activity. When continuous repairing occurs, the bone will become stronger over time. But on the other hand, if there is no repairing of the bone, they can become weak.

Osteoblasts primary goals are synthesis and mineralization and are present when bones are formed and during remodeling.

The bone remodeling process involves something called Basic Multicellular Unit (BMU). The BMU are cells the travel around bone structures and find stressed or damaged areas of bone. They then dissolve onto that area and fill it in with now new bone.

2- Calcium is the most apparent mineral in the body and helps make bones strong and dense. Since calcium is not produced in the body, the body has to pull it from the bones where it is stored. Calcium is then released into the blood stream. When calcium levels are low, bones will give off less calcium in order to maintain even the any kind of amount.

3- The body controls calcium levels in the bones and blood through negative feedback. When calcium levels in the blood stream are too low, parathyroid hormone (PTH) releases more and more parathyroid hormone into the blood. This stimulates osteocytes which cause bone to breakdown. This releases calcium into the blood stream. The body also has a way of reacting to too much calcium in the blood stream. When there is too much calcium, calcitonin is released. Calcitonin ceases osteocytes from breaking bone down. This keeps more calcium from being released into the blood stream.

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