The vertebral body end plate is part of the autocentrum. The anterior and posterior surfaces of the autocentrum constitute the funnel shaped vertebral body end plates. The outer rim of the end plate is the vertebral body growth zone. The anterior and posterior end plates are connected by bony plates that are horizontally attached to the ourter contour of the autocentrum. [ http://zfin.org/ZDB-PUB-180228-2 GOC:ymb ORCiD:0000-0002-9900-7880 ]