Definition:
Bone marrow is a soft, spongy material found inside the bones of your body.
The most important components of bone marrow are cells that continuously mature and develop into blood cells. These immature cells are called "hematopoietic stem cells" or blood forming stem cells. These cells mature into the three types of blood cells –
- red blood cells (RBCs) that carry oxygen to different parts of the body
- white blood cells (WBCs) that protect the body from infections
- platelets that helps the blood to clot
Many blood disorders, including cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, affect the bone marrow. A bone marrow biopsy is a test used to identify disorders in the cells of the bone marrow.
