Question

The nurse determines that an older female client has kyphosis, has lost two inches of height in the last three years, and has a recent history of spinal vertebral fractures. What underlying pathology explains these manifestations?

a. Rate of bone resorption that exceeds rate of bone deposition.
b. Progressive weakening of the muscle fibers of the lower back.
c. Deterioration of the myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers.
d. Vertebral compression caused by increased bone density.

Answer 1

Kyphosis, loss of height, and spinal vertebral fractures in an older female client can be explained by the underlying pathology of rate of bone resorption that exceeds the rate of bone deposition in osteoporosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Osteoporosis is a common age-related bone disease that causes a gradual loss of bone density and strength. When the thoracic vertebrae are affected, there can be a gradual collapse of the vertebrae, resulting in kyphosis, an excessive curvature of the thoracic region. This manifestation is due to the underlying pathology of rate of bone resorption that exceeds the rate of bone deposition. In osteoporosis, the process of bone resorption by osteoclasts is accelerated, leading to a decrease in bone density and an increased risk of fractures.