Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
bone age
Radiological assessment of skeletal maturation used to evaluate growth and pubertal development.
Full Definition
Bone age is a radiological measure of skeletal maturation determined by comparing X-ray images of specific bones, typically the left hand and wrist, to standardized atlases. In adolescent medicine, bone age assessment helps evaluate growth potential, diagnose growth disorders, and predict adult height. Bone age may be advanced or delayed compared to chronological age, providing important information about pubertal timing and underlying endocrine conditions that affect growth and development.
Usage
Usage note: Always specify method used (Greulich-Pyle or TW3) and compare to chronological age in documentation.
In Context
- "Bone age X-ray revealed skeletal maturation of 11 years in a chronologically 13-year-old patient." — Radiology report interpretation
- "Advanced bone age suggested limited remaining growth potential despite the patient's short stature." — Growth disorder evaluation
Also known as
skeletal age
radiological age
Contrasted with
chronological age
Don't confuse with
chronological age
developmental age