The<unk>  (or<unk> , physis, or growth<unk>  is a hyaline cartilage<unk>  in the metaphysis at each end of a long bone. It is the part of a long bone where new bone growth takes<unk> ; that is, the whole bone is alive, with maintenance remodeling throughout its existing bone tissue, but the growth<unk>  is the<unk>  where the long bone grows longer (adds length). The<unk>  is only found in children and adolescents; in adults, who have stopped growing, the<unk>  is replaced by an<unk>  line. This replacement is known as<unk>  closure or growth<unk>  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).
Epiphyseal plate
Ossification center
Sesamoid bone
Osteotome
Axon hillock
Fibrous cap
Dorsal nexus
Pivot joint