rickets
[ rik-its ]
/ ˈrɪk ɪts /
noun Pathology.
a disease of childhood, characterized by softening of the bones as a result of inadequate intake of vitamin D and insufficient exposure to sunlight, also associated with impaired calcium and phosphorus metabolism.
Origin of rickets
First recorded in 1635–45; origin uncertain
Words nearby rickets
Example sentences from the Web for rickets
British Dictionary definitions for rickets
rickets
/ (ˈrɪkɪts) /
noun
(functioning as singular or plural) pathol
a disease mainly of children, characterized by softening of developing bone, and hence bow legs, malnutrition, and enlargement of the liver and spleen, caused by a deficiency of vitamin D
Word Origin for rickets
C17: of unknown origin
Medical definitions for rickets
rickets
[ rĭk′ĭts ]
n.
A bone disease resulting in defective skeletal growth in children, analogous to osteomalacia in adults, characterized by bone demineralization caused by deficiency or impaired metabolism of vitamin D or phosphates.
infantile osteomalacia juvenile osteomalacia rachitis
Scientific definitions for rickets
rickets
[ rĭk′ĭts ]
A bone disease seen mostly in children, caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, usually as a result of inadequate dietary intake or lack of exposure to sunlight. This deficiency causes decreased calcium absorption from the intestine and abnormalities in formation and mineralization of skeletal bone, resulting in defective bone growth and deformity.