An elderly female patient is diagnosed with significantly decreased levels of estrogen. Based on this finding, which skeletal disorder is she most susceptible to develop, and what is its primary physiological characteristic?

Step-by-step solution

Decreased levels of estrogen is a common cause of osteoporosis, which is an age-related disorder that primarily affects females after menopause. Osteoporosis is characterised by decreased bone mass and an increased chance of fractures. Inflammation of joints is a characteristic of arthritis or gout, not osteoporosis. Gout and tetany are caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals and low Ca⁺⁺ levels in body fluid, respectively, and are not directly triggered by decreased estrogen levels. Answer: Osteoporosis :