Volkmann's canals

Volkmann's canals (Latin Canales perforantes ) are small, visible only under the microscope bone channels. They extend transversely to the running direction of the osteons and hence perpendicular to the bone surface.

The Volkmann's canals provide a compound of the longitudinally running Haversian canals or the osteons in the substantia compacta of the bone. In contrast to the latter, they are not surrounded by concentric bone lamellae. The Volkmann's canals contain the smallest blood vessels with fenestriertem ( windowed ) endothelium.

Named are the Volkmann's canals after the German physiologist Alfred Wilhelm Volkmann ( 1801-1889 ).