The microcirculation of the bone marrow

Abstract

Abstract The microcirculation in the bone marrow has been studied in the femur, tibia, and humerus of guinea pigs, rats, and rabbits. Used were whole mounts of bone with bone marrow in situ , perfused and not perfused with India ink, thick sections (0.5 to 1.0 mm) of the same material, and also serially cut histological sections. It is concluded that the major blood supply to the bone marrow is transosteal. Direct intramyeloid connections of the arborizations of the nutrient artery with the sinusoids are rare. The great majority of the terminal capillaries of the nutrient artery enter the bone, where they anastomose with the intraosteal vessels which in turn connect with the sinusoidal network at the osteomyeloid junction. In addition, numerous direct links exist between the periosteal vessels and the vessels in the osteal canals.