Growth plates are found on the long bones of children and teenagers. These plates are areas where tissue is growing near the end of the bones. Test your knowledge of growth plates by taking this quiz.
1. The growth plate is the weakest area of the growing skeleton.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
The growth plate is weaker than bone that's already been formed. It's also weaker than the nearby ligaments and tendons that connect bones to other bones and muscles. In a growing child, a serious injury to a joint is more likely to damage a growth plate or bone than the ligaments that keep the joint stable.
2. Most injuries to the growth plate are breaks.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Growth plate breaks are common childhood breaks. They occur more often in boys than in girls.
3. The growth plate most often broken is in the ankle.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Growth plate breaks occur most often in the long bones of the fingers (phalanges). The next most often break is the outer bone of the forearm (radius) at the wrist. These injuries also occur often in the lower bones of the leg. These are the tibia and fibula.
4. Overusing a joint can lead to a growth plate injury.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
For example, a gymnast who practices for hours on the uneven bars, a long-distance runner, and a baseball pitcher perfecting his curve ball can all have growth plate injuries.
5. Car accidents are the cause of most growth plate breaks.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Competitive sports like football, basketball, softball, track and field, and gymnastics cause a third of all injuries. Recreational activities like biking, sledding, skiing, and skateboarding cause a fifth of all growth plate breaks. Car, motorcycle, and all-terrain-vehicle accidents make up only a small percentage of breaks.
6. Any pain in an arm or leg that doesn't go away should be checked out by a doctor.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
A child should never be allowed or expected to "work through the pain." Some injuries left untreated can cause permanent damage and interfere with normal physical growth.
8. An X-ray is the easiest way to see a growth plate break.
You didn't answer this question.
You answered
The correct answer is
Although X-rays are used to diagnose growth plate breaks, the growth plate itself does not show up on the X-ray. That’s because it hasn't yet hardened into solid bone. Instead, the growth plate appears as a gap between the shaft of a long bone (metaphysis) and the end of the bone (epiphysis). Because injuries to the growth plate may be hard to see on an X-ray, an X-ray of the noninjured side of the body may be taken so the 2 sides can be compared. In some cases, the doctor may use other tests, such as an MRI, CT scan, or ultrasound.
Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland doesn't make enough thyroid hormone. The condition is more common in adults. But it’s the most common thyroid disorder in children. Not enough thyroid hormone leads to signs, such as slow growth, lack of activity, and poor performance in school.
Graves disease is an autoimmune disease. With this disease, antibodies cause the thyroid gland to make too much thyroid hormone. This is known as hyperthyroidism. Excess thyroid hormone in the bloodstream leads to the body's metabolism being too active. It can cause problems such as weight loss, nervousness, fast heartbeat, tiredness, and other issues. It’s an ongoing (chronic) condition that needs lifelong treatment.
Puberty that happens early is called precocious puberty. This means a child's physical signs of sexual maturity develop too soon. This includes breast growth, pubic hair, and voice changes. These are known as secondary sexual characteristics. Precocious puberty happens before age 8 in girls, and before age 9 in boys.
