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Which parts of long bones lose the most tissue in age-related osteoporosis?
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atrophy
One example of atrophy is the progressive loss of bone that occurs in osteoporosis (normal bone shown on left; osteoporotic bone shown on right).
In the context of age-related osteoporosis, the reduction of bone tissue is most pronounced in two specific areas of long bones:
- Cancellous bone: This is the open-textured, honeycombed tissue found at the ends of long bones.
- Inner cortex: The inner parts of the cortex (the exterior layer of the bone) also experience significant tissue loss.
As individuals age, these structural changes lead to decreased mineralization and increased bone fragility, significantly raising the risk of fractures.1