What Is Periosteum

The periosteum is a dense fibrous membrane covering of bones. Periosteum contains blood vessels and nerves that provide nourishment and sensation to the bones. It does not cover surfaces in joints which are covered by a synovial membrane.

Periosteum is divided into an outer fibrous layer and inner cambium layer (osteogenic layer).

• Fibrous layer - contains fibroblasts
• Cambium layer - contains progenitor cells that develop into osteoblasts responsible for increasing the width and size of bones. Progenitor cells develop into osteoblasts and chondroblasts, which work during the healing process