Bone marrow

Bone marrow is the spongy tissue in the cavities of the bones. It is the blood cell ‘factory’. Healthy bone marrow releases blood cells into the blood stream when they are mature and when required.

Blood cells

The different blood cells made inside bone marrow are:

• Red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body
• White blood cells that make up the body's immune system
• Platelets which are needed for clotting.

An indicator of disease

Bone marrow will indicate blood-related diseases like leukaemia. Using a small needle, bone marrow can be drawn from a bone and examined.

Some diseases of bone marrow

Reticulum cell sarcoma of bone

• A cancerous tumour of the bone marrow
• More males than females develop this tumour
• Symptoms include pain and swelling
• Treatment includes irradiation therapy.

Leukaemia

• Cancer of the blood, which starts in the bone marrow
• The exact cause is unknown,
• Symptoms include anaemia, bruising and nose bleeds
• Treatment includes chemotherapy (drugs) and radiotherapy, and may include bone marrow transplantation.

Aplastic anaemia

• The bone marrow stops making enough blood cells
• People between the ages of 15 and 30 are most at risk
• Can be present at birth or may be caused by certain drugs, chemicals or radiation.
• The cause is unknown for around half of all cases.
• Symptoms include weakness, fever, skin haemorrhages
• Treatment can include blood transfusions or a bone marrow transplant.

Bone marrow transplants

For a successful bone marrow transplant, the donor needs to have the same tissue type. If the donated marrow isn't a close match, the donor’s marrow will reject the recipient's body. A person's tissue type can be checked with a simple blood test. In a transplant operation, the recipient's marrow is treated with drugs and x-rays. Then the donor marrow is injected into the recipient's blood. The donor marrow finds the bones and settles into the cavities.

Where to get help

• See your doctor for information and referral.

Things to remember

• Blood cells are made inside bone marrow.
• Diseases of bone marrow affect the production of blood cells.
• Bone marrow transplants involve the matching of tissue types of the donor and the recipient.

You might also be interested in:

• Bone cancer.
  
• Bone marrow donors.
  
• Bones.
  
• Circulatory system.
  
• Leukaemia.
  
• Multiple myeloma.
  
• Polycythaemia vera.
  

Want to know more?

Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

(Logo links to further information)

Fight Cancer Foundation

Last reviewed: September 2011

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residents and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

If you would like to link to this fact sheet on your website, simply copy the code below and add it to your page:

<a href="http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Bone_marrow?open">Bone marrow - Better Health Channel</a><br/>
Bone marrow, a soft substance inside bone cavities, makes blood cells. Diseases of the bone marrow such as leukaemia, aplastic anaemia and reticulum cell sarcoma of bone tend to upset the making of blood cells. In some cases, a bone marrow transplant is the best treatment.

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your qualified health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residence and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a qualified health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

For the latest updates and more information, visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Copyight © 1999/2012  State of Victoria. Reproduced from the Better Health Channel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au) at no cost with permission of the Victorian Minister for Health. Unauthorised reproduction and other uses comprised in the copyright are prohibited without permission.