Editing Endochondral ossification (section)

==Secondary center of ossification==
During the postnatal life, a secondary ossification center appears in each end ([[epiphysis]]) of long bones. In these secondary centers, cartilage is converted to bone similarly to that occurring in a primary ossification center.<ref name="Paw" /> As the secondary ossification centers enlarge, residual cartilage persists in two distinct locations:<ref name="Plastic" />{{bulleted list |Articular cartilage: This layer coats the bone ends, concerned with [[joint]] movement. |[[epiphyseal plate|Epiphyseal growth plate]]: This transverse layer lies between the [[epiphysis]] and [[diaphysis]]. It’s composed of highly active chondrocytes and responsible for longitudinal bone growth. Consequently, the bone elongates at this growth plate until closure occurs at skeletal maturity. }}

At the end of an individual’s growth period, the production of new cartilage in the epiphyseal plate stops. After this point, existing cartilage within the plate turns into mature bone tissue.<ref name="Paw" />