What keeps growing until you are 35 then starts to shrink?
Long Bones Growth and Shrinkage
Long bones stop growing in length by the age of 21 in males and 18 in females due to epiphyseal plate closure, during which cartilage is fully replaced by bone. The concept of something growing until 35 and then shrinking may relate to other body organs or tissues, rather than bone length. In middle adulthood, height can gradually decrease due to factors like intervertebral disc compression and osteoporosis.
Explanation:
The answer lies within the human biology and the growth patterns of our bones. Long bones in the body grow during adolescence and into young adulthood. Female long bones typically stop growing around the age of 18, and male long bones stop growing around the age of 21 due to what is known as epiphyseal plate closure. This involves the conversion of cartilage into bone at the growth plates, marking the end of lengthwise bone growth.
However, the notion that something in the body grows until age 35 and then begins to shrink might refer to brain mass or specific organs, such as the thymus. Although bone density can increase until the mid-30s, it is not due to bone growth in length. After the mid-30s, many adults might start losing height very gradually, often due to intervertebral disc compression and changes in posture. Later in life, particularly after age 40 and significantly for post-menopausal women, loss of bone density due to conditions like osteoporosis can result in further height reduction.
What can cause gradual reduction in height after the age of 35 in adults? Factors such as intervertebral disc compression and osteoporosis can contribute to the gradual reduction in height after the age of 35 in adults. Intervertebral disc compression can result in a slight decrease in the spacing between vertebrae, leading to a small amount of height loss over time. Osteoporosis, a condition characterized by the weakening of bones, can also cause bones to become more porous and prone to compression, further contributing to height reduction. These factors, combined with changes in posture and muscle tone, can result in a gradual decrease in height as adults age past 35.