What condition involves porous bones that are more likely to fracture?

• A. Osteoporosis
• B. Osteoarthritis
• C. Rickets
• D. Osteogenesis imperfecta

Answer: (A)

Bone strength depends on how dense and well-structured the bone is. In osteoporosis, bone resorption outpaces bone formation, so mineral content and the supporting architecture thin out. The result is porous, less dense bones that crack or fracture more easily, often with minor bumps or falls, especially in the spine, hip, or wrist. This condition is common with aging and lower estrogen levels after menopause, and it’s why fractures can occur even when no major injury happens. Other conditions listed affect different parts of the skeleton or have different causes—joint wear in osteoarthritis, vitamin D–deficient mineralization in rickets, or a genetic collagen defect in osteogenesis imperfecta—so they don’t produce the same pattern of porous bones and fragility.