Disorders of growth

Infancy, childhood, and adolescence involve somatic growth as well as intellectual and psychological development. With the adequate progression of puberty and normal anatomy, male and female fertility is achieved, and the species can be propagated. A common manifestation of growth failure is short stature. This chapter explores the ontogeny of normal growth, definitions and assessment of short stature, causes of short stature, and provides a diagnostic algorithm for the evaluation of short stature.