What is Bone Marrow | Bone Marrow cancer | Bone Marrow test

Bone marrow is one of  most important tissues in our body. Bone marrow is fatty, soft tissue found inside hollow of bones. It is  found only in large bones like legs and ribs bones.

Our blood consists of blood cells and plasma. Plasma is a yellow liquid in which blood cells float.  Blood cells are produced in bone marrow. Primarily, Bone marrow contains stem cells. These stem cells go under some sort of transformation and get converted into blood cells.  As you know, blood cells are integral part of our body and can be divided into three categories.

1- Red Blood cells

Red blood cells are responsible for the transportation of  oxygen to all body tissues.  Red cells contain hemoglobin. Oxygen is carried in hemoglobin. Red cells take oxygen from lungs and gills to all parts of body. Red  cells carry back partial amount of carbon dioxide which is then breath out by the respiratory system. Lack of blood cells lead to diseases like Anemia, hemolysis and many others.

2- White Blood Cells

White cells are building blocks of immune system. Immune system provides protection against external substances. Immune system detects external substance and protects body against diseases by killing dangerous external substances like virus and bacteria. So white blood cell help body to fight against diseases. Lack of white blood cells effects the efficiency of immune system and there is more chance that body is unable to defend itself against diseases attack.

3- Platelets

Platelets are bodies or cells present in our blood. Platelets help in clotting process. Lack of platelets may result in too much bleeding and excess of platelets may  lead to clots in blood.

About 45% of blood consists of blood cells, produced in bone marrow.

Bone Marrow Cancer

Bone marrow cancer means serious problem in production of blood cells. Two important types of bones marrow cancer, leukemia and “Multiple Myeloma“, are caused by problem in white blood cells. Leukemia is caused by abnormal production of white cells and  Multiple Myeloma is caused by production of faulty plasma cells ( a sub type of white blood cells). These abnormal plasma cell not only damage bones but also interfere in the production of white cells in bone marrow. Another possible reason of multiple myeloma is paraprotein.

Third type of bone marrow cancer is Lymphomas . This cancer type attacks immune system. Lymphomas rarely develops in bone marrow.

Bone Marrow Test

Bone marrow test is a medical test which is conducted to see whether an individual is suffering from bone marrow cancer. This test checks for abnormal cells in bone marrow. Basically there are two types of bone marrow test.

Bone Marrow Aspiration

In this test liquid form of bone marrow is tested using microscope.

Bone Marrow Biopsy

In biopsy, a solid piece of bone marrow is obtained and examined.

October 4, 2010 è·¯ admin è·¯ 2 Comments
Posted in: Bone Marrow

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