In medical terminology, bone marrow is the soft tissue found in the central part of most bones. Bone marrow cells produce your body's red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. While bone marrow can be found throughout the entire skeleton, it is predominantly found in large bones such as the skull and pelvis. Bone marrow is also responsible for creating new blood cells to replace old ones that have died off or been damaged.
Galen made an early description of bone marrow in the second century. He first classified bone marrow as either yellow marrow, consisting of fat tissue, or red marrow, consisting of red blood cells. Yellow marrow and red marrow are found at opposite ends of a bone. He also highlighted that injuries to the bone or fever could damage bone marrow. While Galen's discoveries were not incorrect, they were incomplete and shaped how scientists viewed bone marrow for several centuries.
Common Bone Marrow Conditions and Diseases
Bone marrow problems are on the rare side, but they can be severe. Aplastic anemia, the most common bone marrow problem, is a lack of mature blood cells. It is when the bone marrow stops producing red or white blood cells. The best way to determine if you have aplastic anemia is with a blood test that checks for the levels of red blood cells and white blood cells called complete blood count (CBC).
If it is determined that you have aplastic anemia, your doctor will likely prescribe medications to increase your bone marrow's production of mature red blood cells. Sometimes bone marrow transplantation is necessary. Other bone marrow conditions and diseases are:
- Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: This condition is a rare form of systemic vasculitis which causes granulomas in the spleen and other organs. It is sometimes referred to as Wegener's granulomatosis.
- Multiple myeloma: This disease occurs when small bones in the body, known as 'tumors,' grow abnormally and divide rapidly. It develops from plasma cells, another type of blood cell that produces antibodies for the immune system. Multiple myeloma can cause severe bone pain, swelling, and excessive bleeding.
Signs Your Bone Marrow May Not Be Healthy
Because bone marrow conditions and diseases are uncommon, it may be difficult for you to know if your bone marrow is healthy or unhealthy. First and foremost, it's essential to consult a medical professional before making any conclusions. The following signs may indicate an unhealthy bone marrow:
- Abdominal pain or abdominal swelling can be caused by ruptured blood vessels.
- Swelling in the face or neck can indicate several conditions, including lymphoma, leukemia, and an enlarged spleen or liver.
- Excessive menstrual bleeding that is prolonged or light. It may indicate a problem with the ovaries or uterus.
- Extreme fatigue and pain during movement may indicate bleeding into, around, and within the joints.
- Unusual bruising, bleeding, or nose bleeds. These could be signs of leukemia. If a bone marrow biopsy shows an abnormality such as elevated white blood cell count and low platelets, it may signal cancer of the bone marrow (myeloma).
- Dizziness. It may result from a low level of oxygen carried by the bloodstream.
- Swelling and pain in one or both legs, an unusual symptom in those with leukemia.
- Severe back pain or stiffness can be caused by various conditions, including infection or cancer. These symptoms can also indicate a poor blood supply to a portion of the spine and sacroiliac joints (referred to as vertebral artery insufficiency). For these reasons, your doctor will perform additional tests such as MRI and CT scans to determine the cause of this problem.
Treatment for Bone Marrow Problems
The treatments for bone marrow conditions and diseases depend on your condition. The following are a few common treatments:
- Blood transfusions: This treatment replaces blood loss through bleeding or helps boost red blood cell production.
- Intravenous antibiotics and other drugs: These medications treat infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or other microbes.
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy: These treatments use toxic chemicals and radiation to destroy cancerous cells. Some new medications may increase your bone marrow's production of new blood cells to prevent aplastic anemia in people with low counts.
Bone marrow is a vital organ that produces blood cell. It is located in the central part of most bones. The two main types of bone marrow are red marrow and yellow marrow. Yellow marrow can be found throughout the entire skeleton, but red marrow is found in large bones such as the skull and pelvis.