Veterinary Histology and Embryology

BLOOD VESSELS AND NERVES OF THE BONE

• Bone is richly supplied with blood vessels and nerves which pass into it form the periosteum.
• An artery, the medullary artery runs through the nutrient canal, through the nutrient foramen into the marrow cavity. In its course through compact bone, the branches of the medullary artery communicate with the vessels of the Haversian canal.
• The medullary artery divides into ascending and descending branches to supply all part of marrow and terminates in a network of sinusoidal capillaries.
• Veins arising from these accompany the medullary artery and communicate with veins of the Haversian canals. Others enter the compact bone through Volkmann’s canals and run in the Haversian canals.
• They enter marrow cavity and anastomose by branches with the capillaries of the medullary artery.
• Nerves enter through Volkman’s canals and ramify in the Haversian canals and the marrow. Pacinian corpuscles occur in the periosteum, whereas osseous tissue is insensitive.