Bone marrow is soft spongy tissue inside certain bones. Unlike the same name, it is not found in the muscles or directly in the spinal cord. The bones have a hard outer structure to protect bone marrow.
After being diagnosed with sickle cell disease, leukemia, lymphoma or other blood disorders, many people wonder, where is bone marrow located? The bone marrow plays a vital role in the human body for making blood cells that carry oxygen, help fight infection and prevent bleeding. Nigerian patients who are considering advanced treatment in India might want to check out the place and function of bone marrow in order to gain insight into the reason why some blood disorders necessitate specialized therapy such as a bone marrow transplant. This guide tells you about the function of bone marrow and red marrow versus yellow marrow; where is it located; and when might a patient need a bone marrow transplant?
Bone marrow is soft spongy tissue inside certain bones. Unlike the same name, it is not found in the muscles or directly in the spinal cord. The bones have a hard outer structure to protect bone marrow. When people ask, where bone marrow is located, you can get different answers depending on the age of the person who's asking. In children, blood-forming bone marrow exists in numerous bones of the body. In adults the marrow of certain bones is responsible for most production of blood cells.
The significant places are:
The pelvic bones are especially significant as they have a lot of active bone marrow. This is why doctors often take a bone marrow biopsy from the back of the hip bone.
Bone marrow is a soft tissue inside the hollow parts of bones. It has stem cells which develop into other blood cell types.
These include:
The bone marrow makes millions of new blood cells every day. This process is fundamental for good health. If there are problems with the bone marrow, the body may not make enough healthy blood cells. This can cause anemia, recurrent infections, bleeding disorders or other health issues.
The bone marrow can be of two kinds, red marrow and yellow marrow.
Bone marrow is the central hub of many diseases in Nigerian population including inherited and acquired blood diseases.
Some common conditions include:
SCD is a condition in which the red blood cells are abnormal due to a genetic defect in the hemoglobin. Leukemia is a type of cancer that develops in the white blood cells formed in the bone marrow. Bone marrow diseases can affect the body since it is the source of blood cells.
Blood counts may be abnormal or a patient may have symptoms that suggest a blood disorder in which case doctors may order bone marrow tests.
Small pieces of solid bone marrow are taken, typically from the back of the hip bone. These procedures allow doctors to look at how many, how big and how developed the blood-forming cells are.
Bone marrow tests might be ordered for diagnosis of:
Bone marrow transplant (also known as a hematopoietic stem cell transplant) is the replacement of damaged or unhealthy blood-forming stem cells with healthy stem cells. Treatment is considered for people who no longer have healthy blood cells in their bone marrow.
A bone marrow transplant might be recommended for diseases like:
The purpose of the treatment is to get a person's blood cell production back to normal and to improve his or her general health.
There are several significant steps that are usually involved in a bone marrow transplant.
The patient's diagnosis, medical history, blood tests, organ function and overall fitness are discussed with the doctor.
The healthy stem cells are then dripped into the patient's bloodstream via an IV. The cells migrate to the bone marrow where they start to make new blood cells.
Patients should be monitored very closely for infections, GvHD, blood counts and other complications.
There are several factors that will affect the cost of a bone marrow transplant in India.
These may include:
Patients should consult a reputable hospital or transplant specialist to get an estimate of their treatment after providing their medical records. Before traveling to Indian hospitals, GetWellGo can help Nigerian patients with medical opinions and cost estimates.
Post-transplant recovery varies from person to person who has undergone a bone marrow transplant. Patients may need to have their immune system rebuilt and regular monitoring of their medical status is necessary.
In Recovery the doctors may recommend:
The role of the family and caregiver also is significant in the patient's recovery. Continued communication with the transplant team in India may be required along with local healthcare providers for patients who are travelling from Nigeria.
Knowing the location of bone marrow can help patients and families understand the place of production of blood cells and the role of bone marrow disorders in affecting the whole body. Bone marrow is found mainly within the bones including the pelvis, ribs, sternum, vertebrae and more and is essential for maintaining health in the production of blood. If your doctor recommends, a bone marrow transplant can be an important treatment option for patients in Nigeria who have been diagnosed with serious blood disorders. GetWellGo helps Nigerian patients undergoing treatment in India to coordinate medical consultation, hospital selection, treatment planning, travel support and post-treatment coordination.
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