Anatomy and Physiology II Practice Test

A deficiency of this vitamin could lead to skeletal deformities:

1. Vitamin K

2. Vitamin E

3. Vitamin D

4. Vitamin A

The correct answer is: Vitamin D

A deficiency in vitamin D can lead to skeletal deformities because this vitamin plays a crucial role in calcium and phosphate metabolism, which are essential for bone development and maintenance. When there is an insufficient amount of vitamin D, the body cannot effectively absorb calcium from the diet, leading to weak bones and conditions such as rickets in children or osteomalacia in adults. These conditions manifest as skeletal deformities due to the improper mineralization of bone tissue. Vitamin D is unique in its ability to regulate calcium levels in the body and promote bone health. Its active form, calcitriol, facilitates the absorption of these critical minerals in the intestines and helps maintain proper bone density. Without adequate vitamin D, even with sufficient dietary calcium intake, bone health can be compromised, resulting in deformities and structural weaknesses. While other vitamins also play roles in overall health, they do not have the same specific impact on skeletal structure as vitamin D does. For instance, vitamin K is involved in the process of blood clotting and bone metabolism, while vitamin E mainly acts as an antioxidant, and vitamin A is essential for vision and immune function. None of these vitamins directly influence bone mineralization to the extent that vitamin D does.