What Is the General Structure of Bone Marrow?
Bone marrow consists of connective tissue that forms a delicate meshwork within the marrow cavity of bones, and it is permeated by numerous thin-walled blood vessels. Within the spaces of this tissue, the immature and adult stages of blood cells exist. The active bone marrow, or red marrow, is responsible for the production of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. It is generally found in the end of long bones (such as the humerus and femur) and in the short, flat and irregularly shaped bones (such as the pelvis and ribs). Yellow marrow is made up mostly of fatty tissue and is located in the shafts of long bones. What Are the Functions of Bone Marrow? The chief function of bone marrow is the production of blood cells, all of which have different functions. Red blood cells carry oxygen and carbon dioxide; white blood cells fight infection; and platelets assist in clot formation. Each cell in the blood has a limited life span. For example, red blood cells live for only about
