Osteosclerosis, << `os` tee oh sklih ROH sihs, >> means hardening, thickening, and increased density of bone. It may involve part of a bone, a whole bone, or the whole skeleton. The most common form, called marble bones or osteopetrosis, is a rare inherited disease that occurs in children. In this disease, the bones become excessively dense and thick. This increased thickness fills in the space containing the bone marrow, the tissue that makes red blood cells. As a result, the child develops severe anemia. Bones affected by osteosclerosis become brittle and fracture more easily than do normal bones. Osteosclerosis may develop in part of a bone as a result of an infection or tumor.
