title: Factors affecting bone growth.
abstract: Bone growth and development are products of the complex interactions of genetic and environmental factors. Longitudinal bone growth depends on the growth plate. The growth plate has 5 different zones-each with a different functional role-and is the final target organ for longitudinal growth. Bone length is affected by several systemic, local, and mechanical factors. All these regulation systems control the final length of bones in a complicated way. Despite its significance to bone stability, bone growth in width has not been studied as extensively as longitudinal bone growth. Bone growth in width is also controlled by genetic factors, but mechanical loading regulates periosteal apposition. In this article, we review the most recent data regarding bone growth from the embryonic age and analyze the factors that control bone growth. An understanding of this complex system is important in identifying metabolic and developmental bone diseases and fracture risk.
authors: University of Ioannina, School of Medicine, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ioannina, Greece. john.gkiatas@gmail.com.
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Gkiatas
authors: Marios
authors: M
authors: Lykissas
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Kostas-Agnantis
authors: Anastasios
authors: A
authors: Korompilias
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Batistatou
authors: Alexandros
authors: A
authors: Beris
mesh_terms: D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans