Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZA
Acute pain - pain which starts suddenly; may be described as severe or sharp
Amenorrhea - a loss of menstrual periods (usually for a period of 6 months or more)
Anorexia nervosa - a disorder caused by excessive fear of being overweight, that causes people to stop eating normally
Appendages - attachments, such as arms or legs, which are appended to the body
Atraumatic fracture - a broken bone caused by falling from your own height (caused without trauma)
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B
Baseline - any test or measurement taken before treatment or study entry
Biomechanical - how your body moves
Bisphosphonates - non-hormonal medications that regulate bone changes and are used to prevent or treat osteoporosis
Body Mass Index - a measure of body size that takes into account both height and weight
Bone densitometry - a method of measuring bone density and strength; a bone density test is used to diagnose osteoporosis, one example is DEXA
Bone metabolism - process of laying down healthy new bone to replace damaged bone
Bone mineral content (BMC) - a measurement of bone mass expressed in grams (g)
Bone mineral density (BMD) - an indication of bone strength measured in grams/square centimetre (gm/cm2)
Bone remodelling - replacing old bone with new bone tissue
Broadband Ultrasonic Attenuation (BUA) - a property of ultrasound currently being used to help assess bone density in areas such as the heel
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C
Calcitonin - a hormone secreted by the thyroid gland; available as a medication in an injectable form and as a nasal spray; used to treat osteoporosis and relieve pain caused by spinal fractures
Calcitriol - the active form of vitamin D which is available as a medication; used to improve calcium absorption
Calcium absorption (or calcium bioavailability) - the amount of calcium the body absorbs and uses from a food or supplement
Calcium Carbonate (CaC03) - a form of calcium supplement
Calcium Citrate - a form of calcium supplement
Chronic pain - ongoing, recurring pain
Colles fracture - a fracture of the wrist
Cortical bone - the type of bone found mainly in the appendages (eg. arms, legs)
Corticosteroids (CS) - type of steroid drug often used for asthma and rheumatoid arthritis
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D
Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) - a scale showing recommended nutritional intakes for healthy people living in Canada and the United States
Dietician - a health professional who specializes in nutrition and healthy eating. The term "Registered Dietician" means that a person has completed the education requirements (set by the province) necessary to use this title. This includes a bachelor's degree and a period of supervised training in a hospital or community setting
Drug Identification Number (DIN) - a number issued by the Canadian government (Health Protection Branch) to each specific drug product
Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) - the gold standard test for measuring bone density; uses low energy x-ray to measure the quantity of bone
Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy - an inherited disorder, usually affecting boys, that causes muscle weakness
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E
Elemental Calcium - the amount of usable calcium in a calcium supplement. For example, calcium carbonate is 40 percent calcium (1250 mg calcium carbonate yields 500 mg elemental calcium)
Endocrine - the endocrine system refers to glands that secrete hormones into the blood
Estrogen - the major female sex hormone (responsible for reproduction and the development of secondary female sex characteristics)
Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) - given to postmenopausal women to replace the estrogen no longer produced by their ovaries
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F
Fat mass - the amount of fat, in grams (g), in the body
Femoral neck - a part of the hip bone which connects the ball of the hip to the long shaft of the thigh bone (femur)
Fragility Fractures - broken bones that occur with minimal or no trauma. i.e. The bone didn't break due to an accident.
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G
General Product (GP) - a number found on drug products
Genetic disorder - caused by damage to the genes (or DNA)
Genetics - the study of heredity, by which traits are passed from parents to offspring
Greater trochanter - the area of bone found at the top part of the femur or thigh bone
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H
Health Protection Branch (HPB) - is a Canadian governing body responsible for the review and approval of new drugs.
Heel ultrasound - a technique which uses ultrasound to measure the bone quality or bone density in the heel
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) - the use of estrogen and progestin/progesterone in postmenopausal women
Hyperparathyroidism - excessive activity of the parathyroid glands (which are located near the thyroid gland in the neck)
Hyperthyroidism - excessive activity of the thyroid gland (which is found in the neck)
Hypogonadism - decreased activity of the male/female sex organs resulting in decreased hormone production
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I
International units - a standard unit of measure, used worldwide
Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis - a rare condition where children have osteoporosis for no known reason
Isosorbide Mononitrate - a heart medication used to increase blood flow to the heart and prevent chest pain; currently being studied for possible effects against osteoporosis
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K
Kyphosis - also known as dowagers hump ? the curving forward of the upper spine
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L
L1 to L4 - first to fourth lumbar vertebrae in the lower back
Lordosis - a curve in the lower spine
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M
Medical Research Council of Canada (MRC) - Canadian government body which funds scientific medical research
Menopause - when the ovaries shutdown and stop producing estrogen and progesterone
Muscular dystrophy - a muscle-destroying disease, characterized by degeneration of individual muscle fibres and cells
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N
Non-invasive - does not involve penetration of the body (eg. no needles or tubes are used)
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O
Occupational Therapist (OT) - is a health professional who helps people diagnosed with, or recovering from, an illness to regain the ability to perform the activities of daily life
Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP) - the birth control pill; hormones taken by women to prevent pregnancy
Osteoblast - a type of cell involved in bone remodelling that helps to build bone
Osteoclast - a bone cell whose primary function is to break bone down
Osteoclast resorption - the process of bone breakdown by osteoclasts
Osteogenesis imperfecta - a genetic disorder that causes brittle bones that break very easily
Osteopenia - a mild decrease in bone mass measured by DEXA when the T-score ranges between 1.1 and 2.5
Osteoporosis - a disease in which bone become less resistant to fracture due to a loss of bone mass (density) and a change in bone structure
Osteoporosis Society of Canada (OSC) - an organization dedicated to helping those with osteoporosis
Ovarian Replacement Therapy (ORT) - another term for ERT - estrogen replacement therapy
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P
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) - a substance secreted by the parathyroid gland which regulates calcium levels in the body; a component of PTH has proven useful in increasing bone mineral density in people with osteoporosis
Peripheral - the end parts of something - as in the forearm and wrist, or ankle and foot of the body
Phosphorus - a mineral active in bone and tissue growth; found in many foods
Physiological - normal bodily functioning of organs and systems
Physiotherapist (PT) - a health professional who deals with exercise, activity and physical function
Phytoestrogens - estrogen-like substances derived from plants
Postmenopausal - after menopause - describes a woman whose periods have ended, whose ovaries have stopped producing eggs, and whose hormonal levels have decreased
Postmenopausal Osteoporosis (PMO) - bone loss due to reduced levels of hormones
Predisposition - a tendency towards something
Primary Osteoporosis - osteoporosis that is not caused by some other disease or medication
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R
Receptor - structure on the outside of cells to which substances circulating in the blood can attach
Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNI) - recommended intakes of essential nutrients for a healthy population
Resistance-type exercises - exercises in which the muscle is acting against resistance (eg. weight training)
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S
Secondary Osteoporosis - osteoporosis that is caused by a medication the person is taking or by a medical condition that the person has
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) - a new class of medications that have 'estrogen-like' effects
Standard Deviation (SD) - a consistent unit of measure above or below the average of a comparison group
Subcutaneously - delivering/receiving/administering substances (usually medication) via injection, just beneath the skin
Supplements - often refers to the addition of vitamins and minerals, in a pill form, to a person's diet
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T
T-score - a measuring system used to detect standard deviations for a specific group - on a DEXA, compares a person to a group of young adults of the same sex
Testosterone - the major male sex hormone
Thyroid gland - an organ that is located at the front of the neck and is part of the endocrine system; secretes hormones that are important for normal body growth and metabolism
Trabecular bones - type of bone mainly found in the spine; has a honeycomb-like structure
TRI-EST - a triple estrogen compound
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V
Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) - a potential marker for bone mineral density that is found in the blood
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W
Ward's triangle - an area in the top part of the femur or thigh bone, near the hip
Weight bearing exercise - exercise in which a person supports her own body weight (eg. walking, dancing)
World Health Organization (WHO) - an international organization whose mission is attainment of the highest possible level of health for all peoples
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Z
Z-score - a measuring system used to detect standard deviations for a specific group - on a DEXA compares a person to controls matched for age, weight, sex and race
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