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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Jul 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Endocrinol. 2020 Jul;246(1):R1–R11. doi: 10.1530/JOE-20-0045

Figure 1. Endochondral Ossification and Formation of Growth Plate.

Figure 1

During embryonic development, formation of a mesenchymal condensation is followed by differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes. The chondrocytes at the center then undergo hypertrophy and apoptosis, drawing the invasion of blood vessels and osteoblasts and building calcified bone in the primary ossification center. Shortly after birth, formation of secondary ossification center separates the epiphysis into articular cartilage and the growth plate, which continues to drive bone elongation.