growth plates

**Growth Plates**

Growth plates, also known as epiphyseal plates, are areas of developing cartilage tissue near the ends of long bones in children and adolescents. These plates are responsible for bone lengthening and overall skeletal growth. As a person matures, the growth plates gradually harden and become solid bone, marking the end of growth in height. Understanding growth plates is essential in fields like pediatrics, orthopedics, and sports medicine, as injuries to these areas can affect bone development and lead to long-term complications.