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Ok then, so what exactly is bone
marrow?
The bone marrow is the inner part,
the core, of the bones, where the various types of blood cells
are manufactured. It is the soft and fatty interior of the
bones. It is the very core of the bones.
What is the purpose of the bone
marrow and what is its function? The bone marrow of the various
bones in our body - of the sternum, ribs, vertebrae, bones of
the pelvis and of the long bones -- are the FACTORIES
where the various blood cells are produced!
In our bone marrow three principal types of
cells are manufactured:
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Red blood cells - about three million
red blood cells are produced by the bone marrow every second.
They carry a protein called "Haemoglobin" which carries oxygen to
all parts of the body, providing energy.
-
White blood cells - are larger than red
cells and have different functions. The two main types are
neutrophils - which fight bacterial infections, and lymphocytes -
which help fight viruses and other non-bacterial infections.
-
Platelets - much smaller than red cells.
They help the blood to clot by sticking together, thereby preventing
bleeding.
What is the function of the blood? Besides
carrying the oxygen and the food to every part of our body and of
defending ourselves against diseases and preventing bleeding, it also
helps our body to get rid of the waste products of our metabolism.
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