Epiphyseal plate

This article uses anatomical terminology.
Epiphyseal plate
Radiogram of distal tibia (left) and fibula (right) showing two epiphyseal plates
Light micrograph of an undecalcified epiphyseal plate that is displaying the hypertrophic zone with its typical chondrocytes, matrix and three zones: maturation (top), degenerative (middle) and provisional calcification (bottom).
Details
Identifiers
Latinlamina epiphysialis
MeSHD006132
TA98A02.0.00.020
TA2395
FMA75427
Anatomical terminology

The epiphyseal plate, epiphysial plate, physis, or growth plate is a hyaline cartilage plate in the metaphysis at each end of a long bone. It is the part of a long bone where new bone growth takes place; that is, the whole bone is alive, with maintenance remodeling throughout its existing bone tissue, but the growth plate is the place where the long bone grows longer (adds length).

The plate is only found in children and adolescents; in adults, who have stopped growing, the plate is replaced by an epiphyseal line. This replacement is known as epiphyseal closure or growth plate fusion. Complete fusion can occur as early as 12 for girls (with the most common being 14–15 years for girls) and as early as 14 for boys (with the most common being 15–17 years for boys).[1][2][3][4][5]

  1. ^ Crowder, C; Austin, D (September 2005). "Age ranges of epiphyseal fusion in the distal tibia and fibula of contemporary males and females". Journal of Forensic Sciences. 50 (5): 1001–7. doi:10.1520/JFS2004542. PMID 16225203. complete fusion in females occurs as early as 12 years in the distal tibia and fibula. All females demonstrated complete fusion by 18 years with no significant differences between ancestral groups. Complete fusion in males occurs as early as 14 years in both epiphyses. All males demonstrated complete fusion by 19 years
  2. ^ Barrell, Amanda. "At what age do girls stop growing?". MedicalNewsToday. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  3. ^ Jarret, Robert R. "Puberty: Tanner Stages – Boys". Pediatric HOUSECALLS. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  4. ^ Jarret, Robert R. "Puberty: Tanner Stages – Girls". Pediatric HOUSECALLS. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  5. ^ "When do most males' growth plates close?". Zoodoc. Retrieved 9 June 2020.