Vekstskivene

Vekstskivene, also known as growth plates or epiphyseal plates, are regions of developing cartilage tissue located near the ends of long bones in children and adolescents. These plates are essential for bone growth, as they facilitate longitudinal development by enabling the bones to lengthen during growth periods.

Anatomically, vekstskivene are situated between the epiphysis (the rounded end of a bone) and the metaphysis (the neck portion connecting the epiphysis to the diaphysis or shaft). During childhood and adolescence, these plates consist of proliferating cartilage cells that gradually ossify and convert into bone tissue, thus contributing to the increasing length of the bone.

The growth process is regulated by various hormonal factors, including growth hormone, sex hormones, and thyroid hormones, which influence the activity within the vekstskivene. Typically, these plates remain active through puberty and close once the individual reaches skeletal maturity, around the late teens to early twenties. The fusion of the growth plates marks the end of height increase and the transition to adult bone structure.

Injury or disease affecting the vekstskivene can impair normal bone development, potentially leading to conditions such as limb length discrepancies or deformities. Common traumatic injuries include fractures through the growth plates, which require careful management to prevent growth disturbances.

Understanding vekstskivene is crucial in pediatric orthopedics, where assessing their health and activity status helps diagnose growth-related disorders. Once they close, subsequent bone growth ceases, solidifying the adult bone length and shape.