I heard of the case of Adam Rainer, where his apparent condition called “acromegaly” caused him to grow uncontrollably beyond adolescence. He was both a dwarf at 19 and a giant at 33. How is this possible if growth plates predetermine height?

Question

I’ve been wondering this for a pretty long time

In: Biology

Answer 1

Growth plates are areas of bone where growth occurs. Normally at the end of puberty the “plates” are converted from active sites of cellular growth to “regular” bone.

In disorders that result in continuous long bone growth this never occurs. The plates remain active more or less indefinitely.

Height isn’t really predetermined. It’s a complex product of genetics and environmental factors.

Edited: Because acromegaly doesn’t technically leave growth plates active. Point really is that growth plates don’t directly predetermine height.