Care Guides - Osteo definition

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Osteo definition

Q: What does "osteo" mean?

A: "Osteo" is the Greek word for "bone".

Another common condition related to bones is called osteoporosis -- a disease where bones get brittle because they do not have enough calcium or other minerals.

The bone disease osteoporosis is caused by more bone cells being resorbed than being deposited. This imbalance results in a progressive loss of bone density and a thinning of bone tissue. Osteoporotic bones are more porous and therefore more vulnerable to fracture.

Review Date: 12/24/2012
Reviewed By: Ariel D. Teitel, MD, MBA, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, NYU Langone Medical Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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