Question

How do bones grow?

Answer 1

The skeleton arises from fibrous membranes and hyaline cartilage during the first month of embryonic development.

These tissues are replaced with bone by two different ossification processes.

The first process is called intramembranous ossification and occurs when fibrous membranes are replaced by bone. The process occurs only in certain flat bones, such as the flat bones of the skull, sternum, and clavicle.

The second ossification process, called endochondral ossification, occurs when hyaline cartilage is replaced by bone tissue.

The primary and secondary centers grow away from each other. The center will try to catch up with the ends but until growth hormones levels become much lower the bone will continue to get longer.