Question

The Haversian canal:

1. is arranged as rods or plates
2. contains the bone’s blood vessels and nerve fibers
3. is responsible for the lengthwise growth of long bones
4. synthesizes and secretes matrix

Short answer

The correct answer is option (b).

Haversian canal contains the bone’s blood vessels and nerve fibers.

Step-by-step solution

Haversian canal

• In Haversian, the bone's blood vessels and nerve fibres are located in canals.
• The central canal known as a Haversian canal is part of the Haversian system, a network of canals found inside the compact bone.
• The Haversian canals that form in the center of the compact bone can contain lymphatic vessels, blood arteries, connective tissues, nerve fibres, and soft tissue.

Step: 1 Explanation for Correct answer

• The Haversian canals, which connect osteocytes to the bone's blood vessels and nerve fibres, surround these structures.
• In Haversian, the bone's blood vessels and nerve fibres are located in canals.
• One or two capillaries as well as nerve fibres are often present in a Haversian canal. Thus, the option b is correct.

Step: 2 Explanation for incorrect answer

• Osteons, which are generally arranged parallel to the bone's surface along its long axis, contain Haversian canals. So, option a is wrong.
• The Haversian canals are a system of tubes containing small channels made of lamellae. Blood arteries, connective tissues, nerve fibres, and lymphatic vessels are found in Haversian canals that form in the center of the compact bone. So, option c is wrong as well.
• The osteon in Haversian canals is made up of concentric rings (lamellae) of matrix surrounding the central channel, known as the osteon (haversian) canal. Hence, option d is wrong too.