Bone Size, Mass, and Volumetric Density

Abstract

Bone fragility in men in old age is the result of reduced bone size or architectural changes accompanying bone loss such as cortical thinning, trabecular thinning, and loss of connectivity. Men have fewer spine fractures than women because their peak bone size is greater; greater vertebral width (not height) confers greater breaking strength. Although men have bigger bones, the amount of bone in the (bigger) bone–the peak vertebral volumetric trabecular BMD (trabecular number and thickness)—is the same in men and women. Vertebral body fragility increases less in men than in women during aging because the loss of trabecular bone proceeds primarily by thinning caused by reduced bone formation,..