Question

if radiographs of the leg bone of an 18year old star basketball player show clear epiphyseal plates but no epiphyseal line, is she likely to grow taller?

Answer 1

Yes, the 18-year-old basketball player has the potential to grow taller since her epiphyseal plates are still present, indicating that her bones have not finished growing.

Step-by-step explanation:

If radiographs of an 18-year-old basketball player's leg bones show clear epiphyseal plates but no epiphyseal line, this suggests that the individual's bones are still in the process of growing. The presence of the epiphyseal plates means that the cartilage has not yet fully ossified into bone, allowing for continued longitudinal growth. Considering the fact that long bones stop growing at approximately age 18 in females, the observation of clear epiphyseal plates indicates that the player has the potential to grow taller before the plates close and bone growth stops.