What osteomalacia means?
What osteomalacia means?
Listen to pronunciation. (OS-tee-oh-muh-LAY-shuh) A condition in adults in which bones become soft and deformed because they don’t have enough calcium and phosphorus.
What is the common name for osteomalacia?
Rickets is a condition that affects bone development in children. It causes bone pain, poor growth and soft, weak bones that can lead to bone deformities. Adults can experience a similar condition, which is known as osteomalacia or soft bones.
What is osteomalacia in biology?
noun, plural: osteomalacias. The softening of bones due to defective bone mineralization. Supplement. This condition results from a deficiency in vitamin D or calcium, and mostly occurs in adult women. It is usually accompanied by pain, tenderness, muscular weakness, and anorexia.
What is the root word of osteomalacia?
From the Greek osteo- (bone) + malakia (softness) = softness of bone.
What causes low calcium levels?
In hypocalcemia, the calcium level in blood is too low. A low calcium level may result from a problem with the parathyroid glands, as well as from diet, kidney disorders, or certain drugs.
Why does osteomalacia occur?
Osteomalacia results from a defect in the bone-maturing process. Your body uses the minerals calcium and phosphate to help build strong bones. You might develop osteomalacia if you don’t get enough of these minerals in your diet or if your body doesn’t absorb them properly.
What causes osteomalacia?
Vitamin D deficiency. People who live in areas where sunlight is limited, get little exposure to sunlight or eat a diet low in vitamin D can develop osteomalacia. Vitamin D deficiency is the most common cause of osteomalacia worldwide.
What is the physiology of osteomalacia?
Osteomalacia is softening of the bones. This ineffective bone mineralization in children is referred to as Rickets. It is caused by impaired bone metabolism which in turn causes inadequate bone mineralization. Bone metabolism is impaired due to insufficient calcium, vitamin D or phosphate or calcium resorption.
What is the suffix of osteomalacia?
Suffix: -malacia. Suffix Definition: softening. Definition: softening of bone.
What is the difference between osteoporosis and osteomalacia?
Osteomalacia is more common in women and often happens during pregnancy. It’s not the same as osteoporosis. Both can cause bones to break. But while osteomalacia is a problem with bones not hardening, osteoporosis is the weakening of the bone.
What is the medical definition of osteomalacia?
Medical Definition of osteomalacia. : a disease of adults that is characterized by softening of the bones and is analogous to rickets in the young.
How common is osteomalacia in women?
Osteomalacia is commoner in women than in men. The softened bones may distort or bend under the body weight. The condition is treated with vitamin D. Osteomalacia is a bone disease that occurs in adults and is caused by a prolonged period of vitamin D deficiency.
What are the signs and symptoms of osteomalacia in children?
Osteomalacia in children is known as rickets, and because of this, use of the term “osteomalacia” is often restricted to the milder, adult form of the disease. Signs and symptoms can include diffuse body pains, muscle weakness, and fragility of the bones.
What are the treatment options for osteomalacia?
Treatment for osteomalacia involves providing enough vitamin D and calcium, both required to harden and strengthen bones, and treating disorders that might cause the condition.
