What is osteoporosis and why do bones break more easily when we get older?
Bones have to withstand a great deal of pressure in everyday life. They take on various strains whenever we stand and move around. The outer layer of our bones is hard and solid. That is called compact or cortical bone. It has a thin but tough coating called the periosteum. Inside bones there is a supporting structure with interconnecting bony webs and rods called trabeculae. This structure is called trabecular or spongy bone because it looks a bit like sponge or honeycomb. In the spaces between the trabeculae is the bone marrow. The bone marrow produces our blood cells. The word “osteoporosis” comes from the Greek for bone (“osteo”) and porous (“porosis”). Osteoporosis happens when a large amount of the spongy bone tissue breaks down, leaving bigger spaces. This makes the bone more porous. The fine structure of the bones also changes, becoming more brittle and easier to break. Bones can become so weak that they break when the person stumbles or lifts a heavy shopping bag. Bones in the
