| bone remodeling | The continuous turnover of bone matrix and mineral that involves first, an increase in resorption (osteoclastic activity) and later, reactive bone formation (osteoblastic activity). The process of bone remodeling takes place in the adult skeleton at discrete foci. The process ensures the mechanical integrity of the skeleton throughout life and plays an important role in calcium homeostasis. An imbalance in the regulation of bone remodeling's two contrasting events, bone resorption and bone formation, results in many of the metabolic bone diseases, such as osteoporosis. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| bone resorption | Bone loss due to osteoclastic activity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bone-salt | The main chemical compound in bone, deposited as minute amorphous crystals in a netlike matrix of collagenous fibres containing collagen; it closely resembles the naturally occurring fluorapatite 3Ca3(PO4)2-CaF2, but is probably a hydroxyapatite in which F is replaced by OH. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bone scan | <investigation, radiology> A study of the body skeleton. A dose of radioactive substance is injected and the scan (taken a little time later) reads the distribution of the radioactivity. (16 Dec 1997) |
| bone scan: falsely negative metastases | <radiology> Anaplastic tumours, reticulum cell sarcoma, renal cell carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma, histiocytosis, neuroblastoma, multiple myeloma (positive scan usually due to recent or impending fracture) (12 Dec 1998) |
| bone sclerosis | <medicine> A condition of bone cartilage occurring in certain diseases of these tissues, in which they acquire an unnatural density, and come to resemble ivory. Origin: L. Eburnus of ivory, fr. Ebur ivory: cf. F. Eburnation. See Ivory. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bone sensibility | The appreciation of vibration, a form of pressure sense; most acute when a vibrating tuning fork is applied over a bony prominence. Synonym: bone sensibility, pallesthetic sensibility, vibratory sensibility. Origin: G. Pallo, to quiver, + aisthesis, sensation (05 Mar 2000) |
| bone spavin | A rarefying osteitis involving the bones of the tarsus of the horse, usually those on the medial surface, resulting in exostoses and ankylosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bone substitutes | Synthetic or natural materials for the replacement of bones or bone tissue. They include hard tissue replacement polymers, natural coral, hydroxyapatite, beta-tricalcium phosphate, and various other biomaterials. The bone substitutes as inert materials can be incorporated into surrounding tissue or gradually replaced by original tissue. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bone tissue | A connective tissue, the matrix of which consists of collagen fibres and ground substance and in which are deposited calcium salts (phosphate, carbonate, and some fluoride) in the form of an apatite. Synonym: bone tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bone transplantation | The grafting of bone from a donor site to a recipient site. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bone tumour | <oncology> A general term that includes both malignant growths (cancer) and benign growths in bone. most cancer in bone tissue is secondary to spread (metastasis) from a distant primary cancer (for example prostate cancer). Primary bone cancer (for example osteogenic sarcoma) or cancer that arises from the bone cells, is relatively rare. (27 Sep 1997) |
| bone wax | A mixture of antiseptic agents, oil, and wax used to stop bleeding by plugging bone cavities or haversian canals. Synonym: Horsley's bone wax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bone wires | Steel wires, often threaded through the skin, soft tissues, and bone, used to fix broken bones. Kirschner wires or apparatus also includes the application of traction to the healing bones through the wires. (12 Dec 1998) |
| breast bone | The breastbone. The sternum articulates with the ribs 1 through 7 on either side of the chest. (27 Sep 1997) |