Part 1 Anatomy and biology of bone matrix and cellular elements: anatomy and ultrastructure of bone; bone morphogenesis and embryologic development; bone formation - osteoblast lineage cells, growth factors, matrix proteins and the mineralization process; bone remodelling; biomechanics of bone. Part 2 Skeletal physiology: childhood and adolescence; pregnancy and lactation; menopause; the aging skeleton. Part 3 Mineral homeostasis: the intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium and phosphate; calcium, magnesium and phosphorus - renal handling and urinary excretion; mineral balance and homeostasis; parathyroid hormone; parathyroid hormone-related protein; vitamin D - photobiology, metabolism, mechanism of action and clinical applications; calcitonin; gonadal steroids and receptors. Part 4 Clinical evaluation of bone and mineral disorders: history and physical examination; blood calcium, phosphorus and magnesium; assay methods - parathyroid hormone, parathyroid hormone-related protein and calcitonin; vitamin D metabolites; biochemical markers of bone turnover; radiologic evaluation of bone mineral in children; scintigraphy in metabolic bone disease; clinical application of bone densitometry; radiology of osteoporosis; bone biopsy and histomorphometry in clinical practice; molecular diagnosis of bone and mineral disorders. Part 5 Disorders of serum minerals: hypercalcaemia - pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis and management; primary hyperparathyroidism; familial hyperparathyroid syndromes; familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia; tertiary hyperparathyroidism and refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism; humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy; hypercalcaemia in haematologic malignancies and in solid tumors associated with extensive localized bone destruction; hypercalcaemia due to granuloma-forming disorders; miscellaneous causes of hypercalcaemia; hypercalcaemic syndromes in infants and children; hypocalcaemia - pathogenesis, differential diagnosis and management; hypoparathyroidism; parathyroid hormone resistance syndromes; neonatal hypocalcaemia; miscellaneous causes of hypocalcaemia; magnesium depletion and hypermagnesemia; hyperphosphatemia and hypophosphatemia. Part 6 Metabolic bone diseases: epidemiology of osteoporosis; pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis; physical activity and regulation of bone mass; prevention of osteoporosis; nutrition and osteoporosis; evaluation of postmenopausal osteoporosis; pharmacology of agents to treat osteoporosis; pharmacologic treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis; osteoporosis in men; glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis; transplantation osteoporosis; juvenile osteoporosis; secondary causes of osteoporosis - thyrotoxicosis and lack of weight bearing; orthopaedic complications of osteoporosis; osteoporosis and rheumatic diseases; nutritional rickets and osteomalacia; metabolic bone disease of total parental nutrition; vitamin D-dependent rickets; hypophosphatemic vitamin D-resi
