The Bone marrow reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Bone marrow

Bone marrow, is the tissue comprising the center of large bones. It is the place where new blood cellss are produced. Bone marrow contains stem cells which produce three types of blood cells: leukocytes, red blood cells, and platelets.

Bone marrow can be transplanted. It is extracted from the largest bones, typically the sternum or the hip, of a HLA-compatible donor by a large needle that reaches the center of the bone and is transfused like blood into the patient.

A compatible donor is found by doing blood tests on potential donors. Perfect matches, the donor matches on all six HLA types result in the most successful transplants. Less perfect matches, four or five matches, can also result in successful transplants but the risk of complications is greater.

Though bone marrow has recently fallen out of favor as a food, most commonly now being used only as a flavoring for soup, in addition to being a good source of protein it is also high in monounsaturated fats which are associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease.

External links

• Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide
• The Bone Marrow Foundation
• U.S. National Marrow Donor Program
• Blood & Marrow Transplant Information Network

Immune system - Lymphatic system
Lymph nodes - Lymph - Lymphocytes - Lymph vessels - Thoracic duct
Bone marrow - Spleen - Thymus - Tonsils

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