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| Some of the definitions provided in this glossary are courtesy of the MAGIC Foundation. MAGIC is a national non-profit organization created to provide support services for families of children affected by a wide variety of growth disorders. |
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| B
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| Bone age—How old the bones think the body is (technically called skeletal maturity). The bones grow from the ends in an area called growth plates. They are completely open at birth and slowly grow to a closed position at the end of puberty. The more closed they are, the older the child’s body thinks it is |
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| C
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| Congenital—Means “existing at birth;” more commonly “born with something” |
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| Constitutional delay of growth—This term is used when a child has a slow but normal rate of growth and a delay in bone age and/or puberty |
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| Chromosomal—Refers to a threadlike strand of DNA that carries genes and transmits genetic, or inherited, information from one generation to the next
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| CT scan—A procedure that uses special X-ray equipment to obtain images of the body from multiple angles; a computer can then process this information to provide a cross-sectional picture of tissues or organs
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| F
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| Familial short stature—A diagnosis in which growth rate is normal, but the child may be shorter than most of his/her peers because his/her parents are of normal short stature
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| G
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| Growth hormone —A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland. One of a number of hormones affecting a child’s growth |
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| Growth hormone stimulation test —A test that measures the ability of the pituitary gland to secrete growth hormone |
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| Growth velocity —The rate of growth, or the speed at which a child is growing |
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| H
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| Hormone—A substance that is made in one part of the body and travels through the blood to affect another part of the body. Hormones affect practically every area of the body. For example, certain hormones make the heart beat faster, change your mood, or tell your body how to grow
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| I
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| Idiopathic short stature—Short stature with no identifiable cause
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| Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)—A hormone produced by the liver and other tissues in response to growth hormone in the body. It helps tell the body it’s time to grow
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| M
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| MRI—Also called magnetic resonance imaging, a procedure in which pictures of internal tissues or organs are obtained via radiofrequency waves and a strong magnetic field
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| P
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| Pituitary gland—A small gland that sits at the base of the brain and secretes hormones, including growth hormone
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| T
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| Thyroid hormones—Hormones that are necessary for growth and development in children and long-term good health
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| U
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| Ultrasound—A procedure in which high-frequency sound waves are utilized to obtain an image of the inside of the body
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| X
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| X-ray—A procedure in which a picture of the inside of the body is created via exposure of that body part to a small dose of radiation
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