The epiphyseal plate (or epiphysial plate, physis, or growth plate) is the hyaline cartilage plate in the metaphyses of chilren and adolescents. The longitudinal growth of these bones occurs primarily at these plates. At the end of puberty, the epiphyseal cartilage cells stop duplicating and the entire cartilage is slowly replaced by bone, leaving only epiphyseal lines in their previous location. Bone growth stops. Ossification of all bones is usually completed by age 25. Once the adult stage is reached, the only way to manipulate height is modifying bone length via distraction osteogenesis.