Final answer:
The pediatric skeletal system differs from the adult skeletal system primarily by having growth plaes for bone lengthening, greater flexibility, and the potential for rapid growth and remodeling. Skeletal maturity, where bones stop growing in length, usually occurs by age
to
.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Does the Pediatric Skeletal System Differ from that of the Adult:
The pediatric skeletal system differs from that of an adult in several key ways. Here are the characteristics that apply:
- A) Presence of growth plates (epiphyseal plates): The pediatric skeleton includes epiphyseal plates which are regions of cartilage that allow for bone growth. Once skeletal maturity is reached, these plates ossify and no further lengthening occurs.
- B) Higher flexibility and greater bone plasticity: Children’s bones have higher flexibility and plasticity due to the presence of more cartilage, which decreases as the bones ossify with age.
- C) Greater density of bone structure: This is more characteristic of an adult skeleton as bones become denser and stronger over time.
- D) Potential for rapid bone growth and remodeling: Pediatric bones grow rapidly through the process of endochondral ossification and have a great potential for remodeling in response to stress and injury.
- E) Smaller bones in relation to body size: While pediatric bones are smaller relative to body size, this does not reflect a fundamental difference in skeletal properties between children and adults.
These differences illustrate how the pediatric skeleton is specialized to allow for growth and development during childhood and adolescence. Skeletal maturity is typically reached by age
to
, marking the endpoint of skeletal growth in length.