Bone marrow examination is a medical procedure that involves drawing a sample of bone marrow to diagnose and monitor diseases such as leukemia and anemia. The spelling of this word is broken down into its individual sounds, using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). It is spelled /boʊn ˈmæroʊ ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən/. The word begins with the sound /b/ for "bone," followed by the vowel sound /oʊ/. The next sound is /n/ for "marrow," followed by the vowel sound /æ/. The word ends with the sound /ʃ/ for "examination" and the schwa sound /ən/ for the suffix "-tion."
Bone marrow examination is a medical diagnostic procedure that involves the extraction and analysis of a sample of bone marrow tissue to diagnose and monitor various hematologic and non-hematologic disorders. The bone marrow, a spongy tissue found within the central cavity of large bones, plays a crucial role in the production of different types of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
During a bone marrow examination, a healthcare professional typically uses a needle to extract a small sample of bone marrow from the hip bone or sternum under local anesthesia. The collected sample is then examined under a microscope to determine the health and composition of the marrow. This procedure helps to evaluate the cellular composition of the marrow, assess the presence of abnormal cells or blasts, identify the presence of infections or diseases, evaluate the status of blood cell production, and detect any abnormalities in the bone marrow structure.
The examination can provide valuable information for diagnosing and managing various conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and certain infections. It is often a critical step in determining the appropriate treatment approach for these disorders and monitoring the progress of ongoing therapies. Bone marrow examination is essential in guiding healthcare providers to make accurate and informed decisions regarding patient care, helping to improve treatment outcomes and overall prognosis.