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Articles related to focusing on healthy aging, prevention, mobility, cognition, nutrition, independence, and caregiving support.

4 min

How do I know my growth plates have fused? Understanding bone maturity

Growth plates, or epiphyseal plates, typically harden and close by the end of puberty, around ages 14–16 for girls and 16–18 for boys. To definitively answer the question, "How do I know my growth plates have fused?" requires a medical evaluation, most commonly involving an X-ray. This scan provides the clearest evidence of whether the cartilage has fully ossified into bone, signaling the end of longitudinal growth.

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4 min

What is the best indicator used in determining the age of a child's skeleton?

In forensic anthropology, estimating the age of juvenile remains is a critical step, and dental formation is widely considered the most reliable method due to its predictable developmental timeline. Understanding what is the best indicator used in determining the age of a child's skeleton is crucial for accurate age-at-death assessment.

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5 min

How do you determine skeletal age?

While the idea of a 'bone age' might sound like science fiction, it is a crucial diagnostic tool in medicine. Did you know that skeletal age is a measure of the maturity of a person's bones, and it is determined by evaluating the development and ossification of bones, primarily in the hand and wrist? This process provides critical insights into an individual's growth and overall bone health.

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5 min

Can You Tell If Your Growth Plates Are Closed? An Expert Guide to Bone Maturity

By the late teens, the majority of a person's skeletal growth is complete, a process marked by the closing of growth plates. Authoritative medical confirmation is the only way to definitively answer the question, "Can you tell if your growth plates are closed?", though there are many contributing factors to consider.

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