Bone Marrow Blood Flow After Marrow Removal or Nutrient Vessel Ligation

SummaryStudies were made of the changes in blood flow in rabbits after localized depletion of femoral marrow or nutrient vessel ligation. Our findings confirm that the nutrient artery is the principal source of flow to medullary tissue in the diaphysis of long bones. They indicate further that (i) there is a highly effective collateral circulation to the medullary cavity, (ii) marrow regeneration is associated with an increased blood flow, and (iii) normal blood flow is restored at a time when the regenerated marrow after a localized depletion is indistinguishable from normal marrow.