The epiphyseal plate is the site of longitudinal growth in bones. The patient likely broke the leg along the plate, which caused it to grow less than the other leg.

The first important concept to understand for this question is the process of endochondral ossification. In this process, cartilage is converted into bone during the early life of an organism. Since the question specifies that the rat has reached adulthood, it must refer to the parts of the final bone product that remain as cartilage once endochondral ossification is complete.

Spongy bone and compact bone in the diaphysis have already ossified, and the medullary cavity contains bone marrow and adipose. To find cartilage in any of these regions would indicate a developmental abnormality.

The ends of bones that are in contact with other bones are protected from frictional damage by articular cartilage. Articular cartilage is essential to maintaining healthy joint function. Deterioration of this cartilage results in arthritis, or inflammation in the joints.

Cartilage is a flexible, avascular connective tissue. It is less flexible than muscle, but softer and more flexible than bone. These properties make it an ideal candidate for joints, providing a medium between the muscles and bones that enact forces on the joint. Cartilage is found on the epiphyses of long bones and between certain bones, such as vertebrae, to cushion the motion of the joints.

Due to its avascular nature, cartilage does not easily regenerate. It is formed by chondroblasts (cartilage cells) in a chondrin matrix. In endochondral ossification, cartilage can be used as a precursor to bone, but will never be formed as a result of bone breakdown. Finally, there are three types of cartilage: elastic cartilage, hyaline cartilage, and fibrous cartilage.

Thin layers of cartilage cells in the epiphyseal plate enable the diaphysis (bone shaft) to grow in length. The epiphyseal line forms when growth stops and ossification occurs, permanently fusing the diaphysis and epiphysis.

The periosteum is a tough connective tissue sheath that covers the outer surface of bones. The medullary cavity is a hollow cylinder inside the diaphysis. The medullary cavity contains bone marrow, which contains blood cells in different stages of development. The Haversian canals perforate bony structure and contain blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves. 

Osteoclasts are bone cells that are responsible for resorbing—or breaking down—bone tissue. Osteoblasts, on the other hand, deposit bone tissue.

Cartilage is not a type of bone cell at all; it is a type of connective tissue consisting of chondrocytes suspended in an avascular matrix. Lacunae are small cavities within the bone matrix that house osteocytes; osteocytes are mature bone cells.

Osteoclasts dissolve bony matrix and repatriate calcium as the bone grows. This expands the meduallary cavity and maintains a manageable mass for the bones, while allowing the body to recycle valuable calcium deposits.

Osteoytes, the long-lived star-shaped cells found in established bones, are primarily found within Haversian systems—the target-shaped tubes of bone matrix. They are encased in a bubble of interstitial fluid known as a lacuna.

Longitudinal bone growth occurs at the epiphyseal plate through the process of endochondral ossification. Cartilage cells undergo rapid mitosis in this region forming the structure that is later replaced by bone tissue.

Intramembranous ossification is the process in which bones are formed within dermal tissue. This process is responsible for forming the flat bones of the skull, as well as the clavicle. Other bones of the body are formed by the process of endochondral ossification, in which cartilage is replaced by bone tissue.

Bones consist of two types of cells that regulate bone growth: osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Osteoblasts lay down collagen and other important organic substances that are required to synthesize bone tissue, whereas osteoclasts reabsorb existing bone tissue. The activity of both cells is important for repair, growth, and maintenance of bone tissue.

Note that a third type of cell, osteocytes, is also found in bone, but does not play as much of an active role in maintaining bone structure.