NEET PG Medical – 2012 – Question – 30

Correct Answer – A
Ans. is ‘A’ i.e., Towards metaphysis [Ref Textbook of general anatomy p. 80]
Nutrient artery

• It enters the middle of the shaft through a nutrient foramen, runs obliquely through the cortex, and then divides into ascending and desending branches that run towards metaphysis.
• Each branch subdivides into a number of smaller parallel vessels which enter the metaphysis and form hair-pin loops.
• The loops anostomose with epiphyseal,metaphyseal and periosteal arteries.
• Therefore, metaphysis is the most vascular zone of the long bone.
• The nutrient artery supplies the medullary cavity and inner-two third of cortical bone of diaphysis and metaphysis