DEXA (or DXA) is an x-ray-based imaging technique for determination of bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition (body fat mass). Two x-ray beams with differing energy levels are used to image the entire animal in a planar fashion. When soft tissue absorption is subtracted, the BMD can be determined from the absorption of each beam by bone. DEXA is the most widely used and, most thoroughly studied, bone density measurement technology and can be applied to rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and bone metastasis. This modality has strong utility in non-invasive measurement of body composition in obesity and diabetes models.
