- See:
-
Epiphyseal Artery
-
Metaphyseal Artery
-
Nutrient Artery
- Discussion:
- forms an extensive network of vessels covers entire length of the bone shaft;
- periosteal vessels send small branches thru minute channels in cortex to supply about outer 1/3 of cortex;
- in children, while periosteum is actively engaged in circumferential bone growth, blood supply in this area is much more abundant than it is in adult;
- Significance of Periosteal Vessels in Adults:
- obliteration of periosteal circulation by stripping periosteum from shaft may result in death of
osteocytes in outer one quarter or less;
- provided that remaining circulation is intact, such periosteal stripping causes little harm;
- vascular plexus lies on the outer surface of the periosteum, which anastomoses with adjacent skeletal muscles;
- in cases in which the nutrient artery of muscle has been damaged, then periosteal vessels may temporarily serve as the primary blood supply;
- periosteal stripping will maintain connections between the periosteum and overlying muscles, where as dissection above the periosteum will
disrupts these connections and may causes ischemia of overlying soft tissues;
The periosteum Part 1: Anatomy, histology and molecular biology.
