Glossary
- Diaphysis
- The middle shaft of a long bone, between the growing regions near the ends.
- Epiphysis
-
The end of a long bone that makes up a joint, and that hardens and
attaches to the shaft of the bone with age.
- Epiphysiodesis
-
An operation to stop the activity of a growth plate.
The effects can be permanent or temporary
- Femur
- The long bone of the thigh
- Fibula
- Thin lower leg bone
- Hemi-epiphysiodesis
-
To tether or restrain one side (medial or lateral) of the growth plate
with an implant, such as a staple.
- Implant
-
Device inserted into a tissue for a specified period of time which is
not absorbed by the body
- Lateral
- Outer side, away from the middle or median plane
- Medial
- Inner side near the midline
- Metaphysis
-
The body of cartilage that separates the epiphyses (end) and the
diaphysis (shaft) of long bones during growth. It is this part of
the bone that grows during childhood; at roughly 18 to 25 years of
age, it changes from cartilage into solid bone.
- Osteogenesis
- The step by step process of natural bone growth
- Osteotomy
- Cutting a bone into two segments
- Physis
-
Growth plate near either end of the long bones (femur and tibia) which
allow for elongation. These close naturally at maturity (girls at age14,
boys at age 16 approximately)
- Tibia
- The larger leg bone between the knee and ankle (shin)
- Varus
-
In outward angulation of the knee in which the knees are separated while
the ankles are touching; “bowed legs”
- Valgus
-
An inward angulation of the knee in which the ankles are separated while
the knees are touching; “knock knees”
