In assessment of skeletal age, based on cervical vertebrae, as seen in lateral cephalometric radiograph, stage 3 indicates:

Vertebral ages can be calculated from the image of the cervical vertebrae seen in a lateral cephalometric radiograph. (A) Diagrammatic drawings and relationships of the stages to the peak of mandibular growth. (B) Stage 2, indicating that peak growth at adolescence is still a year or so ahead. (C) Stage 3, which on average occurs less than 1 year prior to peak growth. (D) Stage 4, typically a year or so beyond peak growth. (E) Stage 5, more than 1 year beyond the peak of the growth spurt, probably with more vertical than anteroposterior growth remaining. (F) Stage 6, more than 2 years beyond peak growth (but a patient with a severe skeletal problem, especially excessive mandibular growth, is not necessarily ready for surgery; the best way to determine the cessation of growth is serial cephalometric radiographs).