When you think of growing bones, you might think they grow out
from the center of the bone. But the long bones in the legs and
arms grow from an area at either end of these bones called the
physis, or more commonly, the growth plate. These areas produce
new bone tissue and determine the final length and shape of
bones in adulthood. An injured growth plate might not do its job
properly, which can lead to crooked or misshapen bones, limbs
that are too short, or even arthritis. Fortunately, these
occurrences are rare. With recognition and proper treatment, the
vast majority of kids recover from growth plate injuries without
any long-term consequences. About Growth Plates All long bones
have an area called the epiphysis, which is the rounded end of
the bone. The long, middle part (or shaft) of the bone is the
diaphysis; the area where the bone gets wider at its end is the
metaphysis. In a growing child, growth plates sit between the
metaphysis and the epiphysis. Growth plates are the developing
tissues at the end