epifyselinje

Epifyselinje, also known as the physis or growth plate, is a layer of hyaline cartilage found in the metaphysis of long bones. It is the site of longitudinal bone growth in children and adolescents. During childhood, chondrocytes in the epiphyseal plate proliferate and mature, eventually undergoing calcification and ossification, leading to an increase in bone length. The epiphyseal line represents the remnant of this cartilage after growth has ceased, typically in late adolescence or early adulthood, when the plate fuses and becomes completely ossified. The closure of the epiphyseal plates marks the end of linear growth. Epiphyseal lines are visible on X-rays and are important for determining skeletal age and assessing growth abnormalities. Conditions affecting the epiphyseal plate, such as fractures or inflammatory diseases, can lead to growth disturbances and deformities.