The two body parts that continue to grow throughout a person's life are the ears and nose. While most parts of the body stop growing after puberty, the cartilage in the ears and nose continues to grow, albeit very slowly.
The Growth of Ears and Nose
The continued growth of ears and nose is due to the type of tissue they're composed of: cartilage. Unlike bone, which mostly stops growing after puberty, cartilage continues to grow throughout life. This growth is usually imperceptible, but over time, it leads to a noticeable increase in size. However, it's important to note that this isn't necessarily true "growth" in the sense of cell multiplication. As we age, the collagen and other fibers within the cartilage begin to break down, leading to drooping and a change in shape, which can appear as continued growth. Source: Flushing Hospital Newsletter
- Cartilage: The ears and nose are primarily made of cartilage, a flexible connective tissue that retains some ability to grow even after other body parts have stopped.
- Gradual Growth: The growth is extremely slow and often goes unnoticed until later in life.
- Apparent Growth vs. Actual Growth: While the ears and nose appear to grow, the process is more accurately described as a change in shape and size due to a combination of continued slow growth and age-related degeneration of cartilage.
While some sources mention the brain continuing to produce neurons, this is a different aspect of growth, not the same kind of continuous physical size increase seen with the ears and nose. Source: PBS NewsHour Other body parts, including hair and nails, do not continue growing after death. Source: Washington Post
In Summary
Although the growth is subtle and often mistaken for a change in shape due to age-related cartilage degeneration, the ears and nose are the only body parts that demonstrate continuous physical size increase throughout a person's lifetime.
