Clinical Significance of Age on Structure

Clinical Significance of Age on Structure

The fact that the structure and function of the human body change with age may seem obvious, but it is often overlooked. A few examples of such changes are given here:

1. In the infant, the bones of the skull are more resilient than in the adult, and for this reason fractures of the skull are much more common in the adult than in the young child.

2. The liver is relatively much larger in the child than in the adult. In the infant, the lower margin of the liver extends inferiorly to a lower level than in the adult. This is an important consideration when making a diagnosis of hepatic enlargement.

3. The urinary bladder in the child cannot be accommodated entirely in the pelvis because of the small size of the pelvic cavity and thus is found in the lower part of the abdominal cavity. As the child grows, the pelvis enlarges and the bladder sinks down to become a true pelvic organ.

4. At birth, all bone marrow is of the red variety. With advancing age, the red marrow recedes up the bones of the limbs so that in the adult it is largely confined to the bones of the head, thorax, and abdomen.

5. Lymphatic tissues reach their maximum degree of development at puberty and thereafter atrophy, so the volume of lymphatic tissue in older persons is considerably reduced.