AbstractLong bones are supplied by one or two main diaphyseal nutrient arteries. Along with these nutrient arteries numerous epiphyseal and metaphyseal arteries passes through the vascular foramina which penetrate bones near their ends, often at fairly specific sites. This epiphyseal and metaphyseal arterial supply is richer than the diaphyseal supply. In the present study 220 dried human adult ulnas were studied. The vascular foramina at the upper and lower ends of the ulna were observed and numbered. Topographical distributions of the nutrient foramina’s were also studied. Results were analyzed statistically. It shows that the difference between the number of vascular foramina at the upper and lower end of ulna is highly significant. So study concluded that the upper end of the ulna has rich blood supply than the lower end. Therefore the lower end is more liable for ischemic necrosis, non-union and delayed union when get fractured. Knowledge of such vascular foramina at the end of long bone is important to clinicians, surgeons and anatomist in the present era of modern surgeries like microvascular bone grafting.
Keywords: Nutrient arteries; Vascular foramina; Ulna; Bone grafting.