Bone disease refers to the medical conditions which affect the bone in any part of the body. Diseases and injuries of bones are major causes of abnormalities of the skeletal system. Bone diseases and injuries were formerly regarded as conditions that were more mechanical than metabolic. An improved understanding of the dual mechanical and chemical function of bone. A bone disease is also called an "osteopathy", but because the term osteopathy is often used to a health-care approach, use of the term can cause some confusion. Although physical injury, causing fracture, dominates over disease, fracture is but one of several common causes of bone disease, and disease is in fact a common cause of fracture.