tillväxtplattan

Tillväxtplattan, often translated as growth plate, is a region of cartilage located near the ends of long bones in children and adolescents. This area is crucial for bone lengthening. It consists of actively dividing chondrocytes, which are cartilage cells. As these cells multiply, they form new cartilage, which is then gradually replaced by bone through a process called endochondral ossification. This process is how long bones increase in length during development.

The growth plates are typically present until skeletal maturity is reached, usually in the late teens or early twenties. Once ossification is complete, the cartilage in the growth plate is entirely replaced by bone, and the bone can no longer lengthen. Hormones, particularly growth hormone and sex hormones, play a significant role in regulating the activity of the growth plates.

Injuries to the growth plate can have serious consequences, potentially leading to premature closure of the plate and resulting in limb length discrepancy or deformities. Therefore, it is important to properly diagnose and manage any trauma affecting these areas in young individuals. The appearance and fusion of the growth plates are also used in forensic science and anthropology to estimate age.