1 INTRODUCTION Endochondral osteogenesis represents a pivotal mode of bone development and is instrumental in the formation of the majority of long bones in the extremities and spine.1, 2 During embryonic limb development, mesenchymal progenitor cells are regulated by a series of factors to transition into mature chondrocytes.3 These maturing chondrocytes become organised into distinct zones within the epiphyseal growth plate—namely, a resting zone (RZ), a proliferating zone (PZ) and a...
