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Anatomy of the Intracortical Canal System: Scanning Electron Microscopy Study in Rabbit Femur

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Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

The current model of compact bone is that of a system of longitudinal (Haversian) canals connected by transverse (Volkmann’s) canals. Models based on histology or microcomputed tomography lack the morphologic detail and sense of temporal development provided by direct observation. Using direct scanning electron microscopy observation, we studied the bone surface and structure of the intracortical canal system in paired fractured surfaces in rabbit femurs, examining density of canal openings on periosteal and endosteal surfaces, internal network nodes and canal sizes, and collagen lining of the inner canal system. The blood supply of the diaphyseal compact bone entered the cortex through the canal openings on the endosteal and periosteal surfaces, with different morphologic features in the midshaft and distal shaft; their density was higher on endosteal than on periosteal surfaces in the midshaft but with no major differences among subregions. The circumference measurements along Haversian canals documented a steady reduction behind the head of the cutting cone but rather random variations as the distance from the head increased. These observations suggested discontinuous development and variable lamellar apposition rate of osteons in different segments of their trajectory. The frequent branching and types of network nodes suggested substantial osteonal plasticity and supported the model of a network organization. The collagen fibers of the canal wall were organized in intertwined, longitudinally oriented bundles with 0.1- to 0.5-μm holes connecting the canal lumen with the osteocyte canalicular system.

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Acknowledgments

This research was performed with a high-resolution scanning electron microscope of the Centre for Large Instruments for Biomedical Research at the University of Insubria. We thank Dr Michele Gnecchi for valuable help with statistics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 2a Divisione di Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Spedali Civili di Brescia, Clinica Ortopedica dell’Università di Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Ugo E. Pazzaglia MD & Federico Ranchetti MD

  2. Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana, Università dell’Insubria, Varese, Italy

    Terenzio Congiu MD, Mario Raspanti MD & Daniela Quacci MD

Authors
  1. Ugo E. Pazzaglia MD
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  2. Terenzio Congiu MD
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  3. Mario Raspanti MD
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  4. Federico Ranchetti MD
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  5. Daniela Quacci MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ugo E. Pazzaglia MD.

Additional information

One or more of the authors (UEP, DQ) have received funding from the University of Brescia and University of Insubria.

Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the animal protocol for this investigation and that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research.

This work was performed at Spedali Civili di Brescia and at Dipartimento di Morfologia Umana dell'Università dell'Insubria.

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Pazzaglia, U.E., Congiu, T., Raspanti, M. et al. Anatomy of the Intracortical Canal System: Scanning Electron Microscopy Study in Rabbit Femur. Clin Orthop Relat Res 467, 2446–2456 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-009-0806-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-009-0806-x

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