Volkmann's canals, also known as perforating holes or channels, are anatomic arrangements in cortical bones. Volkmann's canals are inside

osteons In osteology, the osteon or haversian system (; named for Clopton Havers) is the fundamental functional unit of much compact bone. Osteons are roughly cylindrical structures that are typically between 0.25 mm and 0.35 mm in diameter. Their ...

. They interconnect the

haversian canals Haversian canals (sometimes canals of Havers) are a series of microscopic tubes in the outermost region of bone called cortical bone. They allow blood vessels and nerves to travel through them to supply the osteocytes. Structure Each Haversian ...

with each other and the

periosteum The periosteum is a membrane that covers the outer surface of all bones, except at the articular surfaces (i.e. the parts within a joint space) of long bones. Endosteum lines the inner surface of the medullary cavity of all long bones. Structure ...

. They usually run at obtuse angles to the haversian canals and contain anastomosing vessels between haversian capillaries. They were named after German physiologist

Alfred Volkmann Alfred Wilhelm Volkmann (1 July 1801, Leipzig – 21 April 1877, Halle an der Saale) was a German physiologist, anatomist, and philosopher. He specialized in the study of the nervous and optic systems. Biography Alfred Wilhelm Volkmann was bo ...

(1800-1878). Volkmann's canals are any of the small channels in the bone that transmit blood vessels from the periosteum into the bone and that communicate with the haversian canals. The perforating canals provide energy and nourishing elements for osteons.

Additional images

File:Osso por Descalcificação – HE – 40x.JPG, Bone by decalcification (40x): File:Osso por Descalcificação2 – HE – 100x.JPG, Bone by decalcification (100x):

References

* Skeletal system {{Musculoskeletal-stub