At what age does physeal closure typically occur in females?

Physeal closure in females generally occurs around the age of 14.5 years. This is a critical developmental milestone, as the growth plates, or physeal plates, are responsible for longitudinal bone growth during childhood and adolescence.

In females, the timing of physeal closure is influenced by various factors, including hormonal changes that occur during puberty. Estrogen plays a significant role in hastening the closure of these growth plates, typically resulting in females reaching skeletal maturity earlier than males, who generally complete physeal closure around 16 to 18 years of age.

The average age of 14.5 years is widely accepted in medical literature and practice as the typical age for this closure in females, making it the most accurate choice in the context of the question. Therefore, understanding the developmental anatomy and physiology of growth plate closure is essential for recognizing how and when different factors like age and sex influence this process.