MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -While bone is replacing cartilage in the diaphysis, cartilage continues to proliferate at the ends of the bone, increasing bone length. These proliferative areas become the epiphyseal plates (physeal plates/growth plates), which provide longitudinal growth of bones after birth and into early adulthood.

Detailed explanation-2: -Epiphyseal cartilage is hyaline cartilage tissue with a gelatinous texture, and it is responsible for the longitudinal growth of the long bones in birds and mammals. It is located between the epiphysis and the diaphysis. Epiphyseal cartilage also is called a growth plate or physis.

Detailed explanation-3: -The epiphyseal plate is the area of growth in a long bone. It is a layer of hyaline cartilage where ossification occurs in immature bones. On the epiphyseal side of the epiphyseal plate, cartilage is formed. On the diaphyseal side, cartilage is ossified, allowing the diaphysis to grow in length.

Detailed explanation-4: -When cartilage growth ceases, usually in the early twenties, the epiphyseal plate completely ossifies so that only a thin epiphyseal line remains and the bones can no longer grow in length.

Detailed explanation-5: -Answer and Explanation: The growth of the epiphyseal plate which adds to the length of bone is called interstitial growth. The epiphyseal plate is a plate of cartilage tissue that will grow in length, and will eventually be replaced by bone tissue. This is the main site for lengthening of long bones.