Jävaluukud

Jävaluukud, also known as bone marrow, is a soft, spongy tissue found inside bones. It plays a crucial role in the body's hematopoietic system, responsible for producing blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. There are two types of bone marrow: red bone marrow and yellow bone marrow. Red bone marrow is primarily involved in blood cell production, while yellow bone marrow consists mainly of fat cells and can be converted to red bone marrow if the body requires more blood cells.

In humans, red bone marrow is found in the flat bones of the skull, pelvis, sternum, ribs, and vertebrae, as well as in the epiphyses of long bones like the femur and humerus. Yellow bone marrow is more prevalent in the diaphyses, or shafts, of long bones. The production of blood cells, a process called hematopoiesis, is a continuous and vital function of the bone marrow throughout life. Stem cells within the red bone marrow differentiate into various blood cell types.

Bone marrow is also a source of mesenchymal stem cells, which can differentiate into a range of cell types, including bone, cartilage, and fat cells. This regenerative capacity makes bone marrow transplantation a significant medical procedure for treating certain blood disorders and cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma. The marrow is harvested from a donor and infused into the recipient to restore healthy blood cell production. The collection process involves a needle aspiration, typically from the iliac crest of the pelvis.