Growth arrest lines, also known as Harris lines, are lines of increased bone density that represent the position of the growth plate at the time of insult to the organism and formed on long bones due to growth arrest. They are only visible by radiograph or in cross-section. The age at which the lines were formed can be estimated from a radiograph. Harris lines are often discussed as a result of juvenile malnutrition, disease or trauma. Other studies suggest a reconsideration of Harris lines as more of a result of normal growth and growth spurts, rather than a pure outcome of nutritional or pathologic stress.[1] The lines are named after Henry Albert Harris (1886–1968), professor of anatomy at the University of Cambridge.[2]
| Growth arrest lines | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Harris lines |
 | |
| Growth arrest lines in a child with an underlying bone disease | |
| Specialty | Orthopedics, radiology |
Particularly, deficiencies in protein and vitamins, which lead to delayed longitudinal bone growth, can result in the formation of Harris lines.[3] During the process of endochondral bone growth, the cessation of osteoblastic activity results in the deposition of a thin layer of bone beneath the cartilage cap, potentially forming Harris lines.[4][5] Subsequent recovery, necessary for the restoration of osteoblastic activity, is also implicated in Harris line formation.[6] When matured cartilage cells reactivate, bone growth resumes, causing a thickening of the bony stratum. Therefore, complete recovery from periods of chronic illness or malnutrition also manifests as transverse lines on radiographs. Lines tend to be thicker with prolonged and severe malnutrition. Harris line formation typically peaks in long bones around 2–3 years after birth and becomes rare until adulthood after the age of 5. Additionally, Harris lines occur more frequently in boys than in girls.[7]
References
edit- ^ Papageorgopoulou C, Suter SK, Rühli FJ, Siegmund F (2011). "Harris lines revisited: prevalence, comorbidities, and possible etiologies". Am J Hum Biol. 23 (3): 381–91. doi:10.1002/ajhb.21155. PMID 21387459. S2CID 41932874.
- ^ "Bone Growth in Health and Disease: The Biological Principles Underlying the Clinical, Radiological, and Histological Diagnosis of Perversions of Growth and Disease in the Skeleton". JAMA. 101 (27): 2143. 1933. doi:10.1001/jama.1933.02740520053040.
- ^ Robb, J.; Bigazzi, R.; Lazzarini, L.; Scarsini, C.; Sonego, F. (2001). "Social "status" and biological "status": a comparison of grave goods and skeletal indicators from Pontecagnano". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 115 (3): 213–222. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1076. ISSN 0002-9483. PMID 11424073.
- ^ Wolbach, S. B. (1947). "Vitamin-A deficiency and excess in relation to skeletal growth". The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume. 29 (1): 171–192. ISSN 0021-9355. PMID 20284696.
- ^ Platt, B. S.; Stewart, R. J. (1962). "Transverse trabeculae and osteoporosis in bones in experimental protein-calorie deficiency". The British Journal of Nutrition. 16: 483–495. doi:10.1079/bjn19620047. ISSN 0007-1145. PMID 13943979.
- ^ Seres, David S. (2005). "Surrogate nutrition markers, malnutrition, and adequacy of nutrition support". Nutrition in Clinical Practice. 20 (3): 308–313. doi:10.1177/0115426505020003308. ISSN 0884-5336. PMID 16207668.
- ^ Hughes, C.; Heylings, D. J.; Power, C. (1996). "Transverse (Harris) lines in Irish archaeological remains". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 101 (1): 115–131. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1096-8644(199609)101:1<115::AID-AJPA8>3.0.CO;2-U. ISSN 0002-9483. PMID 8876817.
Further reading
edit- White TD (2001). Human Osteology (2nd ed.). San Diego: Academic Press.
- Papageorgopoulou C, Suter SK, Rühli FJ, Siegmund F (2011). "Harris lines revisited: prevalence, comorbidities, and possible etiologies". American Journal of Human Biology. 23 (3): 381–91. doi:10.1002/ajhb.21155. PMID 21387459. S2CID 41932874.
- Suter S, Harders M, Papageorgopoulou C, Kuhn G, Székely G, Rühli FJ (November 2008). "Technical note: standardized and semiautomated Harris lines detection". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 137 (3): 362–6. doi:10.1002/ajpa.20901. PMID 18711729.
- Alfonso-Durruty MP (June 2011). "Experimental assessment of nutrition and bone growth's velocity effects on Harris lines formation". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 145 (2): 169–80. doi:10.1002/ajpa.21480. PMID 21469071.