Which statement describes the influence of estrogen and testosterone on bone growth and growth plate closure?

Which statement describes the influence of estrogen and testosterone on bone growth and growth plate closure?

• A. Estrogen slows epiphyseal plate closure and delays longitudinal growth.
• B. Testosterone decreases bone mass and density.
• C. Estrogen reduces bone formation during puberty.
• D. Estrogen stimulates epiphyseal plate closure; testosterone increases bone mass and density.

Answer: (D)

Sex steroids shape how bones grow during puberty, with estrogen driving the maturation and eventual fusion of the growth plates (epiphyseal plates), which ends longitudinal growth. Testosterone supports bone strength by increasing bone formation and density; much of its effect on growth comes from promoting maturity and, in bone, can be converted to estrogen, reinforcing the closure process. So, estrogen promoting epiphyseal plate closure and testosterone increasing bone mass and density together describe how these hormones regulate skeletal maturation. The other statements misstate estrogen’s role in plate closure or the effect of testosterone on bone.

Sex steroids shape how bones grow during puberty, with estrogen driving the maturation and eventual fusion of the growth plates (epiphyseal plates), which ends longitudinal growth. Testosterone supports bone strength by increasing bone formation and density; much of its effect on growth comes from promoting maturity and, in bone, can be converted to estrogen, reinforcing the closure process. So, estrogen promoting epiphyseal plate closure and testosterone increasing bone mass and density together describe how these hormones regulate skeletal maturation. The other statements misstate estrogen’s role in plate closure or the effect of testosterone on bone.