benvekstsoner

Benvekstsoner, also known as epiphyseal plates, are areas of specialized cartilage found near the ends of long bones in children and adolescents. These plates are crucial for bone lengthening during growth. They consist of actively dividing chondrocytes, which produce cartilage that is then ossified, or converted into bone, leading to an increase in the bone's length. This process continues until growth is complete, typically in late adolescence or early adulthood, at which point the epiphyseal plates close and are replaced by solid bone.

The growth of bones at the epiphyseal plates is a tightly regulated process influenced by hormones, particularly growth hormone, thyroid hormones, and sex hormones. These hormones stimulate or regulate the activity of the chondrocytes within the plate. Any disruption to this delicate balance, whether due to hormonal imbalances, genetic conditions, or physical trauma to the growth plate, can lead to abnormalities in bone length or shape. Fractures occurring at the epiphyseal plate in growing individuals are of particular concern because they can prematurely arrest bone growth, resulting in a limb length discrepancy or deformities. Understanding the structure and function of benvekstsoner is therefore essential in pediatric orthopedics and endocrinology.