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

. 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 (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