Final answer:
The large nutrient artery enters the compact bone of the diaphysis through the nutrient foramen. This allows for the delivery of essential nutrients to the bone.
Step-by-step explanation:
Near the center of the diaphysis, a large nutrient artery enters the compact bone at an oblique angle through a hole called the nutrient foramen.
The diaphysis is the tubular shaft of a long bone, which runs between the proximal and distal ends of the bone. The hollow region inside the diaphysis is the medullary cavity, filled with yellow marrow, and surrounded by compact bone. Compact bone is structured into units called osteons or Haversian systems, each containing a central Haversian canal which houses blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels. These vital structures reach the osteons through the nutrient foramen.