Osteoporosis in Older Women: Pathophysiology and Abnormal Findings

This article explains the pathophysiology of osteoporosis in older women, including the three main mechanisms that lead to abnormal findings. It also discusses the role of the immune system in bone loss and fragility, and how osteoclasts, osteocytes, and osteoblasts contribute to the development of osteoporosis. References are included for further reading.

Osteoporosis in Older Women

Table of Contents
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................2
Explanation of underlying pathophysiology of abnormal findings in osteoporosis in older
women..........................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY

Explanation of underlying pathophysiology of abnormal findings in osteoporosis in older women
Osteoporosis is the systematic skeletal disorder which is analysed as low bone mass,
deterioration of bone tissue and consequent increase in the risk of bone fracture (Berry and et.al.,
2019). Estrogen helps in building and maintaining the bones within the body. The bone loss
increases in the older women after the menopause due to low levels of estrogen. That is why
osteoporosis is most common within older women.
Pathophysiology of abnormal findings in osteoporosis in older women – There are
three main mechanisms which helps in addressing the pathophysiology of abnormality in
osteoporosis in older women. These are excessive bone resorption, formation of bone is
inadequate, inadequate peak bone mass. This is due to the stem cells which are biasing away
from osteoblast and towards lineage of marrow adipocyte. The development of bone tissue which
become fragile interplay their roles in these three mechanisms. The rate of bone resorption
determines hormonal factors which is also due to lack of estrogen (Rossi, Copes and et.al.,
2018). Lower amount of estrogen is needed to suppress the process to stimulate the breast gland
and uterus in the older women. The estrogen receptor has α-form which helps in regulating the
bone turnover. There is also activation of osteoclasts which is regulated by various types of
molecular signals and this is produced by osteoblasts. Osteoblasts inhibit to the surface of bones
which is subject to remodelling the structure of bone in the older women having osteoporosis.
Oestoblasts help in rebuilding the bone matrix and this process is done at a faster rate. Due to
osteocyte cell death there is bone loss in the older women resulting to osteoporosis. The major
step forward in understanding the discovery of activators for receptor of nuclear factor – kB
(RANK) is a decoy receptor oesteoprotegerin (OPG). RANK is expressed by oestoblasts which
is regarded as the master regulator for survival of oestoclasts. Oestoblasts and bone marrow
stormal cells include the lymphoid tissues which regulates the cycle of bone to be formed. The
RANK is the key regulator of homeostasis of bone influencing the bone absorption and so by
indirectly signalling the RANK. Due to weaker bones, there is an increase in the risk of fractures
to older women.
The osteoclast is responsible for the bone resorption and is regarded as the prototype of
osteoimmune cell. The osteoporosis reduces system of bone working within the body of older
women and this helps in denoting the issues which are observed within the older women (Keen
and et.al., 2020). The immune system to bone loss addresses that the older women have weak

bones which losses calcium and other minerals and due to that older women are more likely to
have osteoporosis. The bone mass density within the body of older women is lost by making
their bones, joints and muscles weak. Osteoporosis leads to more fragility in the bones of older
women which creates the risk of having fractures. This also leads to the basis of older women
prone to having the weaker body bones. There has been direct modulation of osteoclast,
physiology of osteocyte and osteoblast. Osteoclasts are the most abundant cell type in bone
regarded as by-standers of metabolism of bone. This also plays a pivotal role in the cell type in
mineral homeostasis and in bone. Osteocyctes are too in the process of pathophysiology of
osteoporosis releasing the proteins on the anatomic structure where the bone is remodelled
(Stevens and et.al., 2020). This helps in addressing the aspects as to how osteoporosis in older
women such that the immune system is made stronger to build and provide support to the bones.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Berry, S.D. and et.al., 2019. Hip fractures in older adults in 2019. Jama. 321(22). pp.2231-2232.
Keen, M.U. and et.al., 2020. Osteoporosis In Females. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls
Publishing.
Reid, I.R., 2020. A broader strategy for osteoporosis interventions. Nature Reviews
Endocrinology. 16(6). pp.333-339.
Rossi, L.M.M., Copes, R.M. and et.al., 2018. Factors related with osteoporosis treatment in
postmenopausal women. Medicine. 97(28).
Stevens, N.M. and et.al., 2020. Pathophysiology and Epidemiology of Osteoporosis. In Vertebral
Compression Fractures in Osteoporotic and Pathologic Bone (pp. 9-20).
Springer, Cham.
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