Epiphyseal plate

The epiphyseal plate, also known as the growth plate, is a layer of cartilage located near the ends of long bones in children and adolescents. It is where new bone tissue is produced, allowing the bones to grow in length. As a person matures, this cartilage gradually hardens and is replaced by solid bone, eventually causing the growth plates to close. This process enables the bones to grow properly during development, and once they stop growing, the plates are typically fully replaced by bone, marking the end of height increase.