What Is Bone Marrow and Why Is It Important?

What Does Bone Marrow Do?

Bone marrow is the deep, interior portion of your bone. It’s a spongy, cellular material that fills the cavities inside your bones and produces blood cells. Healthy bone marrow constantly supports your bone renewal and produces red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets.

Diseases that affect bone marrow include leukemia, polycythemia vera, and aplastic anemia. Chemotherapy and radiation can sometimes disrupt bone marrow activity, and a bone marrow transplant may be necessary for the treatment of some bone marrow diseases.

What Does Bone Marrow Do?

Your bone marrow helps provide structural support and stability to your bones. It’s active in forming your skeleton and blood cells.

The blood cells produced in the bone marrow are:

• Red blood cells (RBCs): These cells carry oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout your body.
• White blood cells (WBCs): These cells provide immunity and protect your body from germs and cancer cells.
• Platelets: These small particles help your blood clot during an injury.

Bone marrow also constantly produces new skeletal stem cells that develop into bone, cartilage, and fat cells, promoting the renewal of your bone cells to maintain a healthy and strong skeleton.

Anatomy

Bone marrow is located in the center of your bones, in between the natural bony cavities of your skeletal structure.

What is Bone Marrow Made Of?

Bone marrow contains fat, stem cells, and blood vessels. Stem cells are immature cells that can eventually develop into blood, fat, or bone cells.

What Does Bone Marrow Look Like?

Bone marrow is the spongy cellular material within the bone cavities. It is rich in blood vessels but is not typically examined under a microscope.

FAQs

Q: What is bone marrow?
A: Bone marrow is the deep, interior portion of your bone that produces blood cells.

Q: What are the functions of bone marrow?
A: Bone marrow helps provide structural support and stability to your bones, produces blood cells, and promotes bone renewal.

Q: What diseases affect bone marrow?
A: Leukemia, polycythemia vera, and aplastic anemia are some of the diseases that can affect bone marrow.

Q: Can chemotherapy and radiation disrupt bone marrow activity?
A: Yes, chemotherapy and radiation can sometimes disrupt bone marrow activity, and a bone marrow transplant may be necessary for the treatment of some bone marrow diseases.

Conclusion

Bone marrow plays a crucial role in maintaining your overall health by producing blood cells and supporting bone renewal. Understanding the functions and anatomy of bone marrow can help you better appreciate its importance and take steps to maintain its health. If you have any concerns about your bone marrow or overall health, consult with your healthcare provider.