Osteoporosis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among the elderly. The rationale for The Osteoporosis Primer is to provide an introductory text that relates the clinical presentation of osteoporosis to its molecular biochemical basis. The text has been organized into four sections that deal with the molecular/cellular components of bone, the development of peak bone mass, the pathophysiology of aging bone and finally, how all of these relate to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis. The international team of authors includes many leading clinicians and scientists who have provided the reader with a concise, yet comprehensive, synopsis of bone development and skeletal homeostasis. This book will be an essential introduction for individuals working on osteoporosis, including students and doctors considering a career related to metabolic bone disease, general practitioners, geriatricians, rheumatologists, and endocrinologists.