Quick Facts
Sharpey’s fibers are collagenous fibers that pass from the periosteum and are embedded in the outer circumferential and interstitial lamellae of bone (Dorland, 2011).
Related parts of the anatomy
Structure/Morphology
Perforating fibers, or Sharpey’s fibers, are formed from parallel bundles of collagen fibers that are dispersed in consistent intervals from the periosteum. They penetrate the cortical bone at an angle and become continuous with the collagen fibers found in the extracellular matrix of the bone (Aaron, 2012).
Anatomical Relations
Perforating fibers extend from the fibrous periosteal layer through nearly the entire width of the cortical bone.
Function
Perforating fibers provide mechanical stability by tethering the periosteal layer to the underlying cortical bone.
References
Aaron, J. E. (2012) 'Periosteal Sharpey's fibers: a novel bone matrix regulatory system?', Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 3, pp. 98.
Dorland, W. (2011) Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 32nd edn. Philadelphia, USA: Elsevier Saunders.
