Year: 2018
Type: review
Abstract: Recent observations indicate that the cross-sectional area (CSA) of vertebral bodies is on average 10% smaller in healthy newborn girls than in newborn boys, a striking difference that increases during infancy and puberty and is greatest by the time of sexual and skeletal maturity. The smaller CSA of female vertebrae is associated with greater spinal flexibility and could represent the human adaptation to fetal load in bipedal posture. Unfortunately, it also imparts a mechanical disadvantage that increases stress within the vertebrae for all physical activities. This review summarizes the potential endocrine, genetic, and environmental determinants of vertebral cross-sectional growth and current knowledge of the association between the small female vertebrae and greater risk for a broad array of spinal conditions across the lifespan.
Source: Endocrine Reviews
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: G4469551673, Quantification of Brown Adipose Tissue by MRI in Children and Teenagers, G7037603592, EFFECT OF RACE ON BONE DENSITY IN CHILDREN, Improving the Accuracy of Pediatric DXA Bone Studies, BONE DENSITY IN CHILDHOOD - CLINICAL CENTER, Northern New England Clinical and Translational Research Network
OpenAlex ID: W2794305811