Light micrograph of the growth plate of a developing long bone. The epiphyseal cartilage shows the following layers, from top to bottom: zone of proliferation with chondrocyte columns, zone of hypertrophy with large lacunae, zone of calcification (not visible as such, but can be identified by the degeneration of the chondrocytes leaving empty cartilaginous lacunae), and an ossification zone of compact appearance, where there is an invasion of blood vessels and osteogenic cells.

---

Size: 3072px × 3840px
Location:
Photo credit: © JOSE CALVO / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, biological, biology, bone, calcified, cartilage, chondrocytes, developing, development, endochondral, epiphyseal, epiphysis, growth, healthy, histological, histology, hyaline, light, lm, metaphysis, micrograph, microscopy, mixed, normal, ossification, plate, trabecula