What is the order of growth plates closure in boys? by x-raying, why do pediatricians usually just x-ray the wrist, to determine predicted adult hight?

Wrist xray: One of the last bones to ossify are the wrist bones and therefore for this reason xrays of the wrist are done to aid in the aging of a person in relationship to their chronologic age.

Standards exist: Since the hand & wrist have dozens of different growth plates, it is a good single resource for examining the progression of growth related changes that occur over time. Evidence has been gathered over years & standards created. Now reference texts show a series of wrist/hand films that can be compared to any film & give a "bone age".Since it is reliable, and it works, we use it.