Abstract: Growth plate，a cartilage tissue，is located between the epiphyses and diaphysis，and is composed of chondrocytes and extracellular matrix. Growth plate is the critical part of longitudinal growth of bones in cartilage. Recent findings have revealed that the GH-IGF-1 axis is just one of many regulatory systems that control chondrogenesis in the growth plate. Consequently，normal growth in children depends not only on GH and IGF-I but on multiple hormones，paracrine factors，extracellular matrix molecules，and intracellular proteins that regulate growth plate chondrocytes. Linear bone growth results from co-action of chondrocyte proliferation，hypertrophy and extracellular matrix secretion，and is perfectly coordinated by macro-scale regulating factors（mechanical stress，age，et al.）and micro-scale regulating factors（local paracrine，endocrine factors，extracellular matrix，et al.）. Damaged structure and function of the growth plate due to abnormal regulation is related to growth disorders in children. 

Key words: growth disorder, growth plate, growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis, intracellular pathway, paracrine factor

摘要： 生长板是位于骨骺和骨干之间的软骨组织，主要由软骨细胞和细胞外基质组成，是软骨内成骨和骨纵向生长的关键区域。近年来的研究发现生长激素（GH）-胰岛素样生长因子（IGF）-1轴只是生长板中软骨生成的众多调节系统之一，因此，儿童的正常生长不仅取决于GH和IGF-1，还取决于多种激素、旁分泌因子、细胞外基质分子和调节生长板软骨细胞的细胞内蛋白。生长板的线性增长是软骨细胞增殖、肥大和细胞外基质分泌共同作用的结果，并由机械载荷、年龄等宏观调控和局部旁分泌、内分泌因子、细胞外基质等微观调控组成的复杂网络完美协调，调控异常所致的生长板结构和功能受损与儿童生长障碍直接相关。

关键词: 生长障碍, 生长板, 生长激素-胰岛素样生长因子轴, 细胞内信号, 旁分泌因子