| Haversian canals are tiny openings within the compact bone that allow blood vessels and nerves to transverse the lamellae (the hardened matrix layers). Using a combination of these tiny openings and the canaliculi ("little canals" or cracks in bone), blood can cross from the central Haversian canal to osteocytes (bone cells) located in the lacunae ("little caves") among the rings. It is those osteocytes which repair damage (from a fracture) when it occurs in bones. This is not the answer that I was looking for, however! Lets return to the original question. |