Final answer:
Arteries enter the epiphyses of long bones to supply nutrients and oxygen to the red bone marrow and bone tissue, which is essential for bone health and blood cell production.
Step-by-step explanation:
Blood vessels known as arteries enter the epiphyses of a long bone and supply the red bone marrow and bone tissue of the epiphyses. These arteries carry nutrients and oxygen to the bone cells which are essential for their survival and proper function. The arteries access the bone through nutrient foramina, which are small openings in the compact bone primarily located in the diaphysis, and branch into the epiphyses to nourish the spongy bone and red marrow contained within. This blood supply is crucial for the continued health and growth of the bone, including the process of hematopoiesis, which is the production of blood cells in the red marrow.