• Question: how do our bones grow?

    Asked by A'Mari to Greg, Jen, Laura, Mobeen, Paul on 10 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Laura Haworth

      Laura Haworth answered on 10 Mar 2016:

      As you grow, there are special cells at the end of bones that add new calcium and phosphate salts to the network of bone to replace membrane or cartilage- this process is known as ossification. Children have layers of these cells in the shape of plates at the ends of their bones. These are called “growth plates,” and they close up when you reach your full adult height.

      http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/en/howthebodyworks/introductiontotheskeleton/pages/howbonesgrow.aspx

    • Photo: Paul O'Mahoney

      Paul O'Mahoney answered on 10 Mar 2016:

      Laura has this right. It is also important to keep up a regular intake of calcium so that your bones have lots of materials to keep on growing, and when you stop growing, it helps to keep them strong too.

    • Photo: Jen Lowe

      Jen Lowe answered on 10 Mar 2016:

      A long bone, like your femur (thigh bone), grows in length at either end in regions called growth plates where cartilage cells increase in number. The new cartilage cells push older, larger cartilage cells towards the middle of a bone. Over time, the cartilage slowly gets replaced by bone with the help of calcium. This process is called ossification.
      http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-do-bones-grow

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