Rickets Osteomalacia ASBMR

Description: Osteomalacia means "soft bones". The bones are about half mineral (calcium and phosphate) and half protein matrix, which is called osteoid. Normally 98% of the osteoid is mineralized, and 2% is new osteoid that has just been made and is waiting to get mineralized. In osteomalacia, the mineral does not deposit in the osteoid normally, so extra osteoid accumulates. This happens because there is not enough mineral supplied to the bone, or because there is a problem with the osteoblasts. Collagen without mineral is soft and flexible, like your ears. Rickets occurs when this process takes place at the growth plates.