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Last updated: 11/24/2009

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Healthy adult bone marrow contains yellow fat cells, connective tissue, and red marrow that produces blood. Bone marrow is evaluated for cellularity, megakaryocyte production, M:E ratio, differential (classification of blood forming cells), iron content,...

lymphoid, bone, and connective tissue cells, and bone and blood vessel abnormalities. The bone marrow of a healthy infant is primarily red (75–100% cellularity), but the distribution of blood forming cells is very different than adult marrow. Consequently, age-related normal values must be used.

Microscopic examination of bone marrow can reveal leukemia, granulomas, myelofibrosis, myeloma, lymphoma, or metastatic cancers, bone marrow infection, and bone disease. Bone marrow evaluation is usually not needed to diagnose anemia, but may be useful in cases that cannot be classified by other means.


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This video shows a close up view of bone anatomy and how blood is delivered to bone.

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A bone marrow aspiration is usually done at the same time as a bone marrow biopsy. Together, a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration are often called a bone marrow exam.


From http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bone-marrow-biopsy/MY00305

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