The most common sign of cessation of height growth is the closure of the epiphysis. Generally, there are no obvious signs of cessation of growth, but to determine whether growth has stopped, a metaphyseal examination can be performed. The epiphysis is the cartilage between the epiphysis and the metaphysis, which can be seen as a transparent band on X-ray. It will gradually ossify and become shorter, narrower and closer with age, and then turn into a tight seam when it is completely ossified. The presence of epiphyses means that the bones will continue to grow and the body will continue to grow taller. When the epiphyses become blurred and the epiphyses and metaphyses are completely fused together, the epiphyses are closed, which means that the growth has stopped and the body will not continue to grow in height. In most cases, the epiphyses basically close around the age of 18 for women and 21 for men, but it is necessary to go to the hospital to have an X-ray examination to clarify the details. Because of the radiation associated with X-rays, the degree of ossification is determined by examining the carpal bones bilaterally in children, and by X-rays of the knee joints in older adolescents.