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Human BodySurprise 4/5Difficulty 2/5Reviewed on September 17, 2026

Babies are born without kneecaps, which are made of cartilage and ossify later.

Why it is true

At birth, babies have cartilage in the knee area instead of true bone. This cartilage begins to ossify and turn into true kneecaps between two and six years of age, allowing for greater flexibility during birth and motor development.

Source: Mayo Clinic

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