Final answer:
The epiphyseal plates and the size and shape of bones help determine age and stature. The presence or absence of epiphyseal plates indicates the stage of growth and skeletal maturity, while the size and shape of bones provide information about a person's stature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bones and bone characteristics that help determine age and stature are the epiphyseal plates and the size and shape of the bones. The epiphyseal plates, also known as growth plates, are areas of cartilage located at the ends of long bones. They are responsible for bone growth during childhood and adolescence. As a person reaches skeletal maturity, the epiphyseal plates close and are replaced by solid bone, indicating the end of growth in bone length. By examining the presence or absence of epiphyseal plates, doctors can estimate a person's age. For example, if a radiograph of a child's femur shows that the epiphyseal plates are still open, it suggests that the child is still growing and thus younger in age. On the other hand, if the epiphyseal plates are closed, it suggests that the child has reached skeletal maturity and is older in age.
In addition to the epiphyseal plates, the size and shape of the bones can also provide information about a person's stature. Each bone serves a specific function related to body movement and support. Therefore, bones vary in size, shape, and strength based on their functions. The bones of the lower back and lower limb, for example, are thicker and stronger to support the body weight. The size of bony landmarks, which serve as muscle attachment sites, is related to the strength of the corresponding muscles. By examining these bone characteristics, such as size and shape, experts can make estimations about a person's stature.