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osteoporosis

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os⋅te⋅o⋅po⋅ro⋅sis

[os-tee-oh-puh-roh-sis]
–noun Pathology.
a disorder in which the bones become increasingly porous, brittle, and subject to fracture, owing to loss of calcium and other mineral components, sometimes resulting in pain, decreased height, and skeletal deformities: common in older persons, primarily postmenopausal women, but also associated with long-term steroid therapy and certain endocrine disorders.

Origin:
1840–50; osteo- + Gk pór(os) passage, pore 2 + -osis
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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os·te·o·po·ro·sis   (ŏs'tē-ō-pə-rō'sĭs)   
n.   pl. os·te·o·po·ro·ses (-sēz)
A disease in which the bones become extremely porous, are subject to fracture, and heal slowly, occurring especially in women following menopause and often leading to curvature of the spine from vertebral collapse.

[New Latin : osteo- + Greek poros, passage, pore; see pore2 + -osis.]
os'te·o·po·rot'ic (-rŏt'ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

osteoporosis [(os-tee-oh-puh-roh-sis)]

A softening of the bones that gradually increases and makes them more fragile. It is caused by the gradual loss of the mineral calcium, which helps make bones hard. Osteoporosis occurs most often in elderly women.

Note: Many experts now believe that osteoporosis can be prevented through regular exercise, mineral supplements, and a diet high in calcium.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: os·teo·po·ro·sis
Pronunciation: "äs-tE-O-p&-'rO-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural os·teo·po·ro·ses /-"sEz/
: a condition that affects especially older women and is characterized by decrease in bone mass with decreaseddensity and enlargement of bone spaces producing porosity and brittleness —os·teo·po·rot·ic /-'rät-ik/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

osteoporosis os·te·o·po·ro·sis (ŏs'tē-ō-pə-rō'sĭs)
n. pl. os·te·o·po·ro·ses (-sēz)
A disease in which the bones become extremely porous, are subject to fracture, and heal slowly, occurring especially in women following menopause and often leading to curvature of the spine from vertebral collapse.


os'te·o·po·rot'ic (-rŏt'ĭk) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
osteoporosis   (ŏs'tē-ō-pə-rō'sĭs)  Pronunciation Key 
A bone disease characterized by decrease in bone mass and density, resulting in a predisposition to fractures and bone deformities such as the collapse of one or more vertebrae. It occurs most commonly in women after menopause as a result of estrogen deficiency. Calcium supplementation and weight-bearing exercise are used to treat and prevent osteoporosis.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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