Which Growth Plates Close First?

Which Growth Plates Close First?

The growth plates in the knees generally close at about the same time as the ones in the wrist. The usual progression of fusion of growth plates is elbow first, then foot and ankle, then hand and wrist, then knee, then hip and pelvis, and last the shoulder and clavicle.

What growth plates stop growing first?

The whole of the skeleton does not stop growing at the same time; hands and feet stop first, then arms and legs, with the last area of growth being the spine. Growth slows down and stops when a child has gone all the way through puberty and has reached an adult stage of development.

What growth plates close last?

Their growth plates usually fuse, or close around ages 13 to 15, while boys' epiphyseal plates close later, at around ages 15 to 17. The reason for this difference is that a girl's puberty typically starts about 2 years earlier than a boy's.

James H. Sterling
Author

James H. Sterling

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.