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I chose to represent how bone development can be regulated hormonally through pregnant women with osteoporosis. The way bones are structured sort of resemble a sponge as they are porous which allows blood flow and production (Cowin 2015). In the case of osteoporosis, these pores are much bigger due to the loss of bone density. To understand how this disease can affect pregnant women, one must understand the basics of how osteoporosis occurs. Bones carry two very important cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Osteoblasts are cells that help build up bone while osteoclasts are cells that break down old bone. When someone has osteoporosis, osteoclasts are more active than osteoblasts. This means cells are breaking down bone at a faster rate than they can build bone back up. This is what leads to loss of bone density and weakness (Foger-Samwald 2020).
Osteoporosis in pregnant women is rare however, it tends to occur during the last trimester of pregnancy. Around this time, a mothers milk starts to come in and lactation begins to occur. This means that calcium and bone resorption will increase. Calcium is essential for the mothers bones and the baby’s growth while in the womb. During the third trimester the baby needs double the amount of calcium which is where the increase of calcium resorption will occur. In this case the extra calcium is being taken from the mothers bones as 3%-9% of bone density is lost during pregnancy. Osteoporosis doesn’t have to occur during pregnancy, it can occur postpartum as well. Even though the baby was born, there is still an increase of calcium resorption due to the fact that the mother is still lactating (Yun 2017).
References:
Yun, K. Y., Han, S. E., Kim, S. C., Joo, J. K., & Lee, K. S. (2017, January). Pregnancy-related osteoporosis and spinal fractures. Obstetrics & gynecology science. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5313358/#:~:text=At%20the%20last%20period%20of,is%20a%20very%20rare%20condition
The effect of stress on the brain and ways to manage it: Nuvance Health. The Effect of Stress on the Brain and Ways to Manage it | Nuvance Health. (n.d.). https://www.nuvancehealth.org/health-tips-and-news/the-effect-of-stress-on-the-brain-and-ways-to-manage-it
Föger-Samwald, U., Dovjak, P., Azizi-Semrad, U., Kerschan-Schindl, K., & Pietschmann, P. (2020a, July 20). Osteoporosis: Pathophysiology and therapeutic options. EXCLI journal. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7415937/#:~:text=Abstract,increasing%20the%20risk%20of%20fractures
To summarize this, Lily did her project on how the risk of developing osteoporosis may increase towards the end of a woman’s pregnancy. Osteoblasts are bone developing cells and osteoclasts break down bone. When osteoclasts are more active than osteoblasts, then the bone density decreases. While it is rare, pregnant women can develop osteoporosis towards the end of pregnancy due to the mother starting to lactate. This leads to increased calcium resorption since the baby needs double the amount of calcium. Mothers can lose between 3-9% of bone density during the last trimester and continuing into postpartum.