Current Paediatrics
Volume 16, Issue 6 , Pages 430-433, November 2006

Applied physiology: Understanding growth

  • K. Hussain

      Affiliations

    • The London Centre for Paediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
    • ,
  • M. Preece

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WCIN 1EH, UK
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.

Summary 

The process of growth can be considered to occur in four phases: intra-uterine, infancy, early childhood and the pubertal growth spurt. Each of these components is regulated by different factors. During intra-uterine life, growth is regulated by genetic, maternal, nutritional, placental and growth-promoting factors. In infancy, growth is dependent upon nutrition, whereas in early childhood, growth hormone and thyroid hormones become important in regulating growth. Finally, the pubertal growth spurt is controlled by a combination of growth hormone and sex steroids.

Keywords: Growth, Growth factors, Hormones

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PII: S0957-5839(06)00107-2

doi:10.1016/j.cupe.2006.07.014

Current Paediatrics
Volume 16, Issue 6 , Pages 430-433, November 2006

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