Tillväxtbenet

Tillväxtbenet, or growth bone, is a term often used colloquially in Swedish to refer to the areas of bone in children and adolescents where longitudinal growth occurs. These areas are primarily the epiphyseal plates, also known as growth plates, located at the ends of long bones. These plates are composed of actively dividing cartilage cells that produce new bone tissue, leading to an increase in the bone's length.

The process of bone growth at the epiphyseal plate is a complex biological mechanism regulated by hormones, particularly growth hormone and sex hormones. Once an individual reaches skeletal maturity, typically in late adolescence or early adulthood, the epiphyseal plates ossify, meaning the cartilage is completely replaced by bone. At this point, longitudinal growth ceases.

Injuries to the growth plate, known as physeal fractures or epiphyseal injuries, can be a concern in pediatric orthopedics because they can potentially disrupt normal bone growth, leading to limb length discrepancies or deformities. Medical professionals carefully assess and manage such injuries to minimize long-term consequences. The term "tillväxtbenet" itself is not a formal anatomical or medical term but rather a descriptive phrase used to explain the concept of growing bones to a lay audience.