Angioarchitectonics, an argument for ascribing the attribute of "organ" to the yellow bone marrow.
Based upon literature data, the authors set up a theory asserting that the yellow bone marrow has the character of an "organ", as revealed by a series of structural and reactive features of its angioarchitectonics. The diaphyseal bone marrow has a well-defined anatomic hilus; at the place where the nutritive artery penetrates into the marrow, a sphincteric apparatus may be observed; the main arteries follow a spiral path closely related to the central venous sinus, they divide dichotomically and put forth on their way special vascular apparatuses which seem to regulate the intramedullary circulatory output. The terminal arterial ramifications form a segmental structure, while the blood is drained by the central venous sinus corresponding to the hilar veins of the solid organs. The vascular network of the bone marrow has a remarkable potential for regeneration, being capable of full reproduction after mechanical destruction.
D001158:Arteries; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation; D012038:Regeneration; D014680:Veins