Metaphysis

Change of form; transformation.

The line of junction of the epiphysis with the diaphysis of a long bone.

The portion of a long bone between the epiphyses and diaphysis. During childhood, the metaphysis consists of cartilage and is the part of the bone that grows. As it grows, it ossifies near the diaphysis and epiphyses. Between about 18 and 25 years of age the metaphysis stops growing altogether, completely ossifying into solid cancellous bone.

Pl. metaphyses [Gr.] the wider part at the end of the shaft of a long bone, adjacent to the epiphyseal disk.

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Long bone. (Captions in German, but region visible labeled as "metaphyse".)

The metaphysis is the wider portion of a long bone adjacent to the epiphyseal plate.^[1] It is this part of the bone that grows during childhood; as it grows, it ossifies near the diaphysis and the epiphyses. At roughly 18 to 25 years of age, the metaphysis stops growing altogether and completely ossifies into solid bone.

Epiphyseal plates ("growth plates") are located in the metaphysis and are responsible for growth in the length of the bone.

Clinical significance

Because of their rich blood supply, metaphysis of long bones are prone to hematogenous spread of Osteomyelitis in children.

Metaphyseal tumors or lesions include osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, osteoblastoma, enchondroma, fibrous dysplasia, simple bone cyst, aneurysmal bone cyst, non-ossifying fibroma, and osteoid osteoma.^[2]

References

1. ^ Dorland's Pocket Medical Dictionary, 27th edition
2. ^ "Inroductory Course". http://www.umdnj.edu/tutorweb/introductory.htm. Retrieved on 2009-03-12. 

External links

• Organology at UC Davis Musculoskeletal/bone/structure0/structure2 - "Bone, structure (Gross, Low)"

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v • d • e Musculoskeletal system, connective tissue: bone and cartilage Cartilage perichondrium, fibrocartilage callus, metaphysis cells (chondroblast, chondrocyte) types (hyaline, elastic, fibrous) Bone Ossification intramembranous, endochondral Cycle osteoblast, osteoid, osteocyte, osteoclast Types cancellous, cortical Regions subchondral bone, epiphysis, epiphyseal plate/metaphysis, diaphysis Structure osteon / Haversian system, Haversian canals, Volkmann's canals, connective tissue (endosteum, periosteum), Sharpey's fibres, enthesis, lacunae, canaliculi, trabeculae, medullary cavity, bone marrow Shapes long, short, flat, irregular, sesamoid

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