Why Don't Our Bones Keep Growing Forever?

From the creator

Download the Tab For Animals browser extension at https://tabforanimals.org/minuteearth2 Fish, amphibians, and reptiles –actually, almost all vertebrates– get bigger throughout their lives; they generally keep on growing until they die. Then, there are humans, who, by the age of 20 or so, just stop getting bigger… or at least taller. Why do we stop growing partway through life? LEARN MORE ************** To learn more about this topic, start your googling with these keywords: - Cartilage: firm, whitish, flexible connective tissue found in various forms in the larynx and respiratory tract, in structures such as the external ear, and in the articulating surfaces of joints. It is more widespread in the infant skeleton, being replaced by bone during growth. - Estrogen: any of a group of steroid hormones that regulate sexual development and function. - Growth plate: areas of cartilage located at the ends of long bones in children and adolescents. - Indeterminate growth: a biological process where an organism continues to grow throughout its life, rather than stopping at a genetically predetermined size. If you liked this week’s video, you might also like: @SamWebster did a great and detailed video on the histology of the growth plate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QAXY1Jec04 SUPPORT MINUTEEARTH ************************** If you like what we do, you can help us!: - Become our patron: https://patreon.com/MinuteEarth - Our merch: http://dftba.com/minuteearth - Our book: htt

Published 2025-10-31 · Watch on YouTube ↗
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