Which term is used for measuring bone mineral density, often abbreviated as BMD?

• A. Bone densitometry
• B. Bone mineral content (BMC)
• C. Bone mineral density (BMD)
• D. Osteoblasts

Answer: (C)

The key idea is identifying the exact term used to quantify how much mineral is in bone per unit area or volume. That measurement is bone mineral density, abbreviated BMD. It’s the standard value clinicians report when assessing bone strength and osteoporosis risk, usually obtained with a DXA scan. The procedure used to obtain this measurement is called bone densitometry, which refers to the method rather than the actual quantity. Bone mineral content is a related but different quantity—the total mineral amount in a bone, not its density per area or volume. Osteoblasts are the bone-forming cells, not a measurement. So the best answer is bone mineral density.