Diseases That Affect The Skeleton Flashcards
What are four examples of diseases that affect the skeleton?
Rickets
Osteoporosis
Arthritis
Gout
What is another name for rickets?
Rachitis
What is rickets?
A disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin D
How does rickets affect the skeleton?
Vitamin D helps with the absorption of calcium
Without Calcium, bones become soft
They bend and weaken the skeleton
Where does rickets often occur?
In children where bones are still developing
What is osteoporosis?
A disease of the bones that is characterised by a decrease in bone density
What causes osteoporosis?
A shortage of calcium
How does osteoporosis occur?
Bones become porous and less dense
Why is osteoporosis dangerous?
It leads to weakened bones
This increases the risk of fractures
Where does osteoporosis commonly occur?
In older women
What are visible signs of osteoporosis?
A curved back and a decrease in height
What does arthritis mean?
Inflammation in the joints
What arthritis cause?
Severe pain and loss of movement in the joints
What are two kinds of arthritis?
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
What is osteoarthritis?
A disease in which the cartilage that forms part of a joint ages and disintegrates over time
Why does a degeneration of cartilage cause arthritis?
The bones in the joint rub against one another and this causes inflammation
Where does osteoarthritis commonly occur?
Hips Knees Feet Fingers Spine
What happens when someone has rheumatoid arthritis?
The synovial membranes produce too much fluid
This causes inflammation
Why is rheumatoid arthritis an autoimmune disease?
It is where the body attacks its own tissues
Where does rheumatoid arthritis commonly occur?
In small joints, such as the fingers, wrists, knees and toes
What happens to a person who has gout?
Uris acid crystals form in the synovial joints
What can cause gout?
An excess of uric acid
This can be caused by over consumption of alcohol
