Pathology · Skeletal System · Easy
Osteopenia
Meaning: Reduced bone density, seen radiographically as increased lucency with thinned cortices.
In practice: Elderly patients with rib or sternal fractures often show translucent bone with thin cortical outlines.
Word parts
- osteo- means bone
- -penia means too few, a deficiency
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related pathology words.
Which word means: Bleeding, especially heavy or uncontrolled bleeding.
Answer: Haemorrhage
Which word means: A bulge or ballooning in the wall of a weakened blood vessel.
Answer: Aneurysm
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