MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia Rickets.

Rickets - Rickets is defined as the failure of osteoid to calcify in a growing person or animal. Failure of osteoid to calcify in the adult is called osteomalacia. Rickets occurs when the metabolites of vitamin D are deficient. Less commonly, dietary deficiency of calcium or phosphorus may produce rickets. Vitamin D (cholecalciferol [vitamin D-3], a steroid compound) is formed in the skin under ...