Definition

1. Noun:
   • An artery that supplies the medullary cavity of a long bone: A "nutrient artery" is a specific blood vessel that enters the shaft of a long bone through a nutrient foramen to deliver blood, oxygen, and essential substances to the bone marrow and inner bone tissue.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The surgeon carefully avoided damaging the nutrient artery during the procedure.
  • A blockage in the nutrient artery can impair bone healing.
  • The nutrient artery is crucial for supplying the medullary cavity.

Advanced Usage

• "Entrance of the nutrient artery": Refers to the point where this artery enters the bone, known as the nutrient foramen.
  • The study mapped the exact location of the entrance of the nutrient artery in the femur.

Variants and Related Words

• Nutrient foramen (n): The canal or opening in a bone through which the nutrient artery passes.

  • The nutrient foramen allows the nutrient artery to reach the medullary cavity.

• Medullary artery (n): A synonymous term sometimes used for nutrient artery, emphasizing its destination in the bone marrow (medulla).

  • The medullary artery is another name for the nutrient artery.

Synonyms

• Nutrient vessel: A more general term that can include the artery and its associated structures.
• Medullary artery: As noted above, a direct synonym.

Related Phrases

• "Supply the medullary cavity": The primary function of the nutrient artery.
  • The main role of the nutrient artery is to supply the medullary cavity.

Notes

• This is a specialized anatomical term. It is typically used in medical, biological, and anatomical contexts rather than in everyday conversation.

Noun

1. an artery that supplies the medullary cavity of the long bone