title: Scanning electron microscopic observations of the vascular structure of vertebral end-plates in rabbits.
abstract: We used scanning electron microscopy to examine the microcirculation in the vertebral end-plates of rabbits. The arteriola arborizes and swells at the end-plate and then coils to make a microvessel loop. This loop is the structure we refer to as a vascular bud. We suggest that these loop structures of the capillaries play a major role in the nutrition of the intervertebral discs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Desaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011817:Rabbits; D013131:Spine / Q000098:blood supply*