The two main types of bone marrow are red bone marrow and yellow bone marrow.
Bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside some of your bones, plays a vital role in blood cell production and fat storage. These two types of marrow have distinct functions:
Red Bone Marrow
- Function: Primarily responsible for hematopoiesis, the production of blood cells.
- Cell Production: This is where hematopoietic stem cells develop into:
- Red blood cells (erythrocytes) - carry oxygen
- White blood cells (leukocytes) - fight infection
- Platelets (thrombocytes) - help with blood clotting
- Location: Predominantly found in flat bones such as the skull, sternum, ribs, vertebrae, and pelvis. Also found in the ends of long bones like the femur and humerus.
- Prevalence: More prevalent in infants and children, gradually decreasing with age as it is replaced by yellow bone marrow.
Yellow Bone Marrow
- Function: Primarily stores fat in the form of adipose tissue.
- Composition: Consists mainly of fat cells, with some connective tissue and blood vessels.
- Location: Predominantly found in the central cavities of long bones.
- Conversion: Can convert back to red bone marrow under certain conditions, such as severe blood loss or prolonged exposure to high altitudes, to increase blood cell production.
In summary, red bone marrow actively produces blood cells, while yellow bone marrow mainly stores fat but has the potential to convert back to red marrow if needed.
