They never stop growing: the 3 places in the body that increase in size throughout life

Specialists maintain that there are areas of the body that never stop growing because they are made up of tissues that constantly renew their cells or because their structure and elasticity change with age. However, there are also three areas that appear to expand in size, but don't. Where are they located?

The "Better with Health" website points out that some parts of the body never stop developing due to the composition of their tissues, while others only appear to grow over time, even though they don't. This occurs because changes associated with age and factors like gravity alter the shape or proportion of these areas, without any actual increase in size. In the first case, we find areas of the body such as:

1. Nails: They are constantly renewing and growing because new cells are constantly forming at the base of the nail. Although their growth rate may slow with age, fingernails and toenails continue to grow throughout life.

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2. Hair: Hair also never stops growing, although its rate can vary depending on factors such as diet, hair care, and age. Growth is continuous, though sometimes imperceptible. However, it is false that hair continues to increase in volume after death. This is because once circulation stops, there is no oxygen to continue the reproductive process.

3. The nose and ears: These two parts, composed primarily of cartilage, continue to grow slowly throughout life. This is because the cartilage and skin that form them change over time, losing elasticity and collagen, causing them to elongate and give the appearance of growth. The nose and ears grow approximately 0.2 millimeters per year, and this process becomes more visible with advancing age.

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What areas of the body appear to grow but don't?

The main examples of this are: ▪️Lower jaw: Especially in men, the jaw may appear longer or wider with age. This is due to tooth wear, tooth loss, and soft tissue shrinkage. It alters its shape and proportion, but does not imply actual growth.

▪️Feet: As we age, our feet may appear flatter, wider, or slightly longer. This occurs because the ligaments that maintain the foot's shape lose elasticity, causing the arch of the foot to sag and the foot to appear different. In obese people, this effect may be more noticeable due to the increased stress on soft tissues.

▪️Lips: As we age, our lips stretch due to the loss of collagen and elastin, and the skin around them becomes thinner. Factors such as dehydration and sun exposure can make our lips appear more wrinkled and elongated, even if they haven't actually grown.