Scanning electron microscopic observations of the vascular structure of vertebral end-plates in rabbits.
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.
Oki
S
S
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.
Matsuda
Y
Y
Itoh
T
T
Shibata
T
T
Okumura
H
H
Desaki
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011817:Rabbits; D013131:Spine / Q000098:blood supply*