What Are Growth Plates and How Does It Affect Height?
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Tiempo de lectura 6 min
The human body goes through incredible changes during childhood and adolescence. These years are marked by growth spurts, physical development, and milestones that shape who we become as adults. Every inch of height and every sign of progress reflects how amazing the growth process really is.
Behind these changes is a system working quietly to make it all happen. Bones grow longer, muscles get stronger, and the body adapts to support this growth. But what makes it all work? What allows us to grow taller and stronger as we grow up?
In this article, we’ll explore one key part of this process—something that plays a big role in how we grow during these important years.
The Basics of Growth Plates
Definition and Location:
Growth plates are specialized areas of cartilage found at the ends of long bones in children and adolescents [₁]. These zones play a vital role in bone development, acting as the primary sites where bones grow in length [₂]. You can find growth plates in bones such as the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), and radius (one of the forearm bones). These regions remain active during childhood and adolescence, laying the foundation for physical development.
Formation and Development:
From the early stages of life, growth plates begin their work. Made up of cartilage, they house specialized cells called chondrocytes. These cells are responsible for creating new tissue, allowing bones to gradually elongate as the body grows. Over time, this cartilage is replaced by bone through a process known as ossification [₃], providing the structure and strength needed to support the growing body.
Growth plates evolve as a child matures, adapting to the needs of the body at each stage of development. This gradual progression ensures that bones grow in a balanced and coordinated way, contributing to overall physical growth and development.
Function of Growth Plates
Role in Height Development:
The role of growth plates is crucial in children’s development, as they are responsible for increasing their height by lengthening bones [₂]. Within growth plates, various biological processes occur in harmony, collaborating to generate new bone tissue and gradually lengthening bones over time. This careful coordination is what causes kids and teens to grow taller quickly during childhood and adolescence.
Closure and Adulthood:
As kids grow taller rapidly due to the careful coordination at the growth plates, these plates eventually close, signaling the end of major growth spurts and the start of a more stable period as they reach maturity.
When growth plates close, it means that the significant increase in height has finished. Typically, boys and girls have their growth plates close at different times.
According to research mentioned in a study on growth plate closure, the age at which at least 50% and 90% of females had fused their growth plates occurred between 14-17 and 15-18 years, respectively. In boys the age at which at least 50% and 90% had fused their growth plates occurred between 15-18 and 17-20 years, respectively (Kvist OFT, Luiza Dallora A, Nilsson O, et al, 2021) [₄]. Once the growth plates close, they merge with the bones, signifying the end of the growth process and the start of adulthood. This milestone marks the end of growing taller and the beginning of focusing on maintaining healthy bones and overall well-being throughout adulthood.
Factors Influencing Growth Plates
•Genetic Factors:
Genetics play a significant role in how growth plates function [₅], directly influencing a child’s growth potential. A person's height and bone development patterns are often inherited from their family. While genetic factors set the foundation for growth, they do not completely determine outcomes, as other environmental and lifestyle elements can also play a part.
•Nutritional Influence:
Proper nutrition is essential for the healthy functioning of growth plates [₆]. These areas require a steady supply of nutrients to support the process of bone elongation. A balanced diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, protein, and other key nutrients ensures that the growth plates have what they need to perform their job effectively. Poor nutrition, on the other hand, can hinder their function, potentially impacting a child's growth and development [₇].
•Hormonal Regulation:
Hormones play a central role in regulating growth plates [₈]. Growth hormone, thyroid hormone, and sex hormones work together to control when growth begins, how it progresses, and when it slows down. These hormones interact with the growth plates, signaling the production of new bone tissue. A proper hormonal balance is vital to ensure that the growth plates function as intended throughout childhood and adolescence.
Injuries and Conditions Related to Growth Plates
Common Injuries:
Growth plates are softer and more delicate than fully developed bone, making them more vulnerable to injury during childhood and adolescence. Injuries can occur due to falls, sports activities, or accidents, ranging from minor fractures to more serious disruptions. Because growth plates are critical for bone development, even a small injury can have lasting effects if not properly addressed.
Growth Plate Disorders:
Certain conditions can affect growth plates, leading to irregular growth patterns. For example, Blount’s disease, which impacts the growth of the shin bone [₉], or rickets, a condition caused by vitamin D deficiency [₁₀], can result in abnormalities in bone development. While these disorders are rare, recognizing symptoms early can help in managing them effectively.
Maintaining Healthy Growth Plates
Physical Activity and Bone Strength
Engaging in regular physical activity plays a key role in supporting the health of growth plates [₁₁]. Activities like walking, swimming, and other low-impact exercises help build bone strength while minimizing the risk of injury. Overloading the body with high-impact or repetitive stress activities can strain growth plates, so it’s important to strike a balance. Encouraging active play and age-appropriate sports is a great way to promote healthy bone development while protecting these delicate areas.
Rest and Recovery
Rest is just as important as activity when it comes to maintaining healthy growth plates [₁₂]. Adequate rest gives the body time to recover and repair, especially during periods of rapid growth. Sleep, in particular, is essential, as the body performs many of its restorative processes at night. Creating a consistent sleep routine ensures that children and teens give their bodies the recovery time they need to support overall growth and development.
Protecting Growth Plates from Overuse
As children engage in physical activities, it’s important to monitor for signs of overuse or discomfort, particularly in growing areas like the knees, ankles, and wrists. Overuse can lead to unnecessary stress on growth plates, potentially resulting in injuries. Providing proper footwear, warming up before activities, and maintaining a varied exercise routine can all help prevent these issues.
Conclusion:
Growth plates are remarkable structures that play a vital role in a child’s growth and development. From their ability to lengthen bones to their eventual closure as adulthood approaches, these specialized areas of cartilage are at the core of physical growth during childhood and adolescence. By understanding their function and the factors that influence them, we gain valuable insights into how the body grows and adapts during these critical years.
Maintaining the health of growth plates requires a balance of proper nutrition, regular physical activity, and adequate rest. Encouraging healthy habits and monitoring for any potential issues can help ensure that growth plates function as they should. By supporting these natural processes, we set the stage for strong, healthy development and lay a foundation for lifelong well-being.
References:
[₁] KidsHealth. (n.d.). Growth plates: What parents should know. Retrieved January 8, 2025, from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/growth-plates.html#:~:text=Growth%20plates%20are%20the%20areas,longer%20than%20they%20are%20wide.
[₂] Ağırdil Y. The growth plate: a physiologic overview. EFORT Open Rev. 2020 Sep 10;5(8):498-507. doi: 10.1302/2058-5241.5.190088. PMID: 32953135; PMCID: PMC7484711.
[₃] Semevolos, S. A. (2017). Orthopedic disorders of the foal. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice. Retrieved January 8, 2025..
[₄] Kvist OFT, Luiza Dallora A, Nilsson O, et al. A cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging study of factors influencing growth plate closure in adolescents and young adults. Acta Paediatr. 2021;110:1249–1256. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.15617
[₅] Medical News Today. (n.d.). What to know about calcium. Retrieved January 8, 2025, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327514
[₆] Peterson, R. (n.d.). Growth plate modulation through nutrition supports catch-up growth: Scientific overview. Abbott Nutrition. Retrieved January 8, 2025, from https://static.abbottnutrition.com/cms-prod/growthleadershipnetwork.com/img/growth-plate.pdf
[₇] Mirian, M., Rafiei, M., Khosravy, T., Moradinazar, M., & Samadi, M. (2023). Relationship between dietary patterns with closure growth plate in 12-13 years old girls in Kermanshah. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.09.11.23292092
[₈] B. C. J. van der Eerden, M. Karperien, J. M. Wit, Systemic and Local Regulation of the Growth Plate, Endocrine Reviews, Volume 24, Issue 6, 1 December 2003, Pages 782–801, https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2002-0033
[₉] Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Blount’s disease. Retrieved January 8, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22424-blounts-disease
[₁₀] Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Rickets: Symptoms and causes. Retrieved January 8, 2025, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rickets/symptoms-causes/syc-20351943
[₁₁] Mirtz TA, Chandler JP, Eyers CM. The effects of physical activity on the epiphyseal growth plates: a review of the literature on normal physiology and clinical implications. J Clin Med Res. 2011 Feb 12;3(1):1-7. doi: 10.4021/jocmr477w. PMID: 22043265; PMCID: PMC3194019.
[₁₂] King, J. (n.d.). How inadequate sleep impacts your injury risk. Hawai‘i Pacific Health. Retrieved January 8, 2025, from https://www.hawaiipacifichealth.org/healthier-hawaii/be-healthy/how-inadequate-sleep-impacts-your-injury-risk/
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