Metaphysis

Dr Craig Hacking ◉ ◈ and Dr Jeremy Jones ◉ et al.

The metaphysis (pl: metaphyses) is the wide portion of a long bone and the region of the bone where growth occurs. Growth occurs at the section of the metaphysis that is adjacent to the growth plate (physis).

The metaphysis is located between the diaphysis and epiphysis.

A relatively rich blood supply and increased vascular stasis makes the metaphysis prone to haematogenous spread of infection in childhood and osteomyelitis.

See also

General anatomy

anatomic position
regional anatomy
systems anatomy
- reticuloendothelial system
- endocrine system
osteology
- skeleton
  - axial skeleton
  - appendicular skeleton
- bones
  - macroscopic structure
  - microscopic structure
  - bone growth
    - fetal bone formation
      - notochord
    - developmental ossification
      - endochondral ossification
        
        primary ossification
        
        secondary ossification
      - intramembranous ossification
  - bones types
  - nutrient foramen
- joints
  - structural types
  - functional types
muscles
- bursa
organs
- embryology
  - mesenchyme
  - parenchyma
- skin
  - glomus body
blood vessels
- histology
  - intracranial arteries
nerves
- histology
  - Obersteiner-Redlich zone

Article information

rID: 42639

System: Musculoskeletal

Section: Anatomy

Tag: bone

Synonyms or Alternate Spellings:

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Cases and figures

Figure 1: general bone anatomy Figure 1: general bone anatomy

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Figure 2: physeal anatomy Figure 2: physeal anatomy

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