epifüüseplaat

An epiphyseal plate, also known as a growth plate, is a layer of hyaline cartilage found in the growing bones of children and adolescents. It is located near the ends of long bones, specifically at the metaphysis, which is the region between the epiphysis (the widened end of the bone) and the diaphysis (the long shaft of the bone). The epiphyseal plate is crucial for longitudinal bone growth.

Within the epiphyseal plate, chondrocytes, or cartilage cells, undergo mitosis and proliferation. These newly formed chondrocytes then mature and enlarge, pushing the epiphysis away from the diaphysis. This process, known as endochondral ossification, is where the cartilage is gradually replaced by bone tissue. As long as the epiphyseal plate remains active and continues to produce new cartilage, the bone will lengthen.

In adolescence, hormonal changes, particularly the surge in sex hormones, lead to a significant increase in the rate of ossification. Eventually, this process causes the epiphyseal plate to thin and close, meaning that all the cartilage has been replaced by bone. Once the plate has closed, longitudinal bone growth ceases. The remnant of the epiphyseal plate in adults is called the epiphyseal line. Injuries to the epiphyseal plate in children can have serious implications for normal bone growth, potentially leading to deformities or limb length discrepancies.