Blood Supply of Bones

Arterial Supply

Young Long Bones

Nutrient Supply

Enter the Shaft through the nutrient Foramen, runs through the Cortex, and divides into ascending and descending branches which turn down to form hair pin bends

Each branch divides into a number of small parallel channels which terminate in the Adult Metaphysis by Anastomosing with the Epiphysial, Metaphysial and Periosteal arteries

The Nutrient Artery supplies Medullary Cavity, inner 2/3rd of Cortex and Metaphysis

The growing ends of bones in upper Limb are Upper end of humerus and Lower end of Femur and Upper End of Tibia are the growing ends

The Nutrient Foramen is directed away from the growing end of the bone. Their directions are indicated by a Jingle

Periosteal Arteries

These are especially numerous beneath the Muscular and Ligamentous Attachment

They Ramify beneath the periosteum and enter the Volkmann's canal to supply the outer 1/3rd of the Cortex

Epiphysial Arteries

These are derived from Periarticular Vascular Arcades (Circulus Vasculosus) found on the nonarticular bony Surface

Out of the numerous Vascular Foramina in this region, only a few admit the arteries (epiphysal and metaphysis), and the rest are Venous exits

The number and size of these Foramina may give an idea of the relative Vasularity of the two ends of a Long Bones

Metaphysial Arteries

These are derived from the neighbouring Systemic Vessels

They pass directly into the Metaphysis and reinforce the Metaphysial branches from the Primary Nutrient Artery

Long Short Bones

Nutrient Artery enters the middle of Shaft and divides to form a plexus. Periosteal Artery supplies major part of Bone and may replace the Nutrient Artery

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Short Bones

Short Bones are supplied by numerous Periosteal Vessels which their nonarticular surfaces

Vertebra

In a vertebra, the body is supplied by anterior and posterior vessels and the vertebral arch by Large Vessels entering the bases of transverse process. It Red Marrow is drained by two Large Basivertebral veins. These Foramina lie on the posterior aspect of the body of the vertebra

Rib

A Rib is supplied by (a) the nutrient artery which enters it just beyond the tubercle and (b) the Periosteal Arteries

Venous Drainage

Veins are numerous and large in the Cancellous Red Marrow contaning bones (eg. basivertebral veins). In the Compact bone, they accompany arteries in the Volkmann's Canals

Lymphatic Drainage

Lymphatics have not been within demonstrated within the bone, although some of them do accompany the Periosteal Blood Vessels, which drain to the regional Lymph Nodes

Nerve Supply of Bones

Nerves accompany the blood vessels. Most of them are Symphathetic and Vasomotor in the function

Few of them are Sensory which are distributed to the Articular ends and Periosteum of the Long Bones, to the Vertebra, and to Large Flat Bones