metabolic bone disease  metabolic bone disease, Metabolic
diseases of bone often affect bone density. For example, persons
with osteoporosis experience a significant decrease in bone
density. Normal bone is shown on the left; osteoporotic bone is
shown on the right.© International Osteoporosis Foundationany of
several diseases that cause various abnormalities or deformities
of bone. Examples of metabolic bone diseases include
osteoporosis, rickets, osteomalacia, osteogenesis imperfecta,
marble bone disease (osteopetrosis), Paget disease of bone, and
fibrous dysplasia. In clinical terms, metabolic bone diseases
may result in bone pain and loss of height (due to compression
of vertebrae), and they predispose patients to fractures.  The
skeleton, like many other tissues of the body, undergoes a
constant process of breakdown and renewal. This ongoing process
of bone resorption and formation permits the skeleton to adjust
to the changes required for healthy functioning and subtle
remodeling to maintain maximal bon