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How do Volkmann canals connect blood vessels in compact bone?
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bone
A long bone of the human body, showing a magnified cross section of the interior.
In compact bone, Volkmann canals serve as transverse channels that run perpendicular to the long axis of the bone cortex.1
These canals facilitate the circulation of blood by connecting the blood vessels located within the Haversian canals to one another. Additionally, they link these internal vessels with the blood supply found in the periosteum, the membrane covering the outer surface of the bone. By creating this network, Volkmann canals ensure that blood can be distributed throughout the cortex, effectively integrating the nutrient artery system with the superficial layers of the bone.12