pathology
Last reviewed 01/2018
An excess of unmineralised osteoid is characteristic of both rickets and osteomalacia. Normally, this accounts for less than a quarter of trabecular bone but in osteomalacia and rickets it may approach 100%.
Additionally in rickets there is failure of normal mineralisation of the cartilage matrix in the growth plate. There is an overgrowth of chondrocytes producing a greatly thickened growth plate. Both vascularisation and calcification are impaired in the underlying zone of maturation.