Answer :
Final answer:
The third zone of the epiphyseal plate is the zone of maturation and hypertrophy, which contains mature chondrocytes contributing to bone growth. So the correct option is a. Proliferative zone .
Explanation:
The third zone of the epiphyseal plate is the zone of maturation and hypertrophy. This zone contains chondrocytes that are larger and more mature than those in the proliferative zone. So the correct option is a. Proliferative zone . These mature chondrocytes contribute to the longitudinal growth of the bone, as they enlarge and the surrounding cartilage matrix begins to calcify. The correct sequence of zones in the epiphyseal plate is the reserve zone, proliferative zone, zone of maturation and hypertrophy, followed by the ossification zone.