Nerve Supply of Bones

As with all other living tissues, the bone is innervated by peripheral nerves so that it can coordinate with the central nervous system. The important part of this coordination is formed by the sensory signals coming from the bones. The brain reads these signals and make necessary changes to avoid any damage to bones and other body tissues.

Hilton's Law

Hilton’s law explains the pattern of innervation of bones by the peripheral nerves. According to this law, the nerve supplying a muscle will also supply the underlying bone. Thus if a group of muscles over a bone receive nerve supply from a specific nerve, the bone, over which the muscles lie will also be innervated by the same nerve.

Features of innervation of bones

The innervation of nerves show the following common features:

• Nerves accompany the blood vessels so if you have to find the specific nerve supplying a specific bone, you will have to look for the nerves which accompany the arteries and veins of a bone.
• Most of the nerves coming to a bone are sympathetic and vasomotor in function.
• Some of the nerves are sensory and such nerves are distributed to the articular ends and periosteum of the bones.