US Medical Term · anatomy
Bone Marrow
Médula ósea
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Bone Marrow |
| Spanish (Español) | Médula ósea |
| Chinese (中文) | 骨髓 |
| Korean (한국어) | 골수 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Tủy xương |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Utak ng buto |
| Portuguese (Português) | Medula óssea |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ไขกระดูก |
| Japanese (日本語) | 骨髄 |
What it means
Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue found inside certain bones, such as the hips, thighs, and chest. It is the body's blood cell factory. Red bone marrow produces red blood cells, which carry oxygen; white blood cells, which fight infections; and platelets, which help blood clot. In adults, red bone marrow is found mainly in flat bones like the pelvis, sternum, and vertebrae. A bone marrow biopsy is a procedure where a small sample is taken — usually from the hip bone — to diagnose blood disorders, anemia, or cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. Bone marrow transplants can treat certain blood cancers and immune disorders.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My doctor wants to do a bone marrow biopsy to check for a blood disorder.
El médico quiere hacer una biopsia de médula ósea para detectar un trastorno sanguíneo.
My bone marrow is not producing enough blood cells.
La médula ósea no está produciendo suficientes células sanguíneas.
I was told I may need a bone marrow transplant — can you explain what that means?
Me dijeron que puede que necesite un trasplante de médula ósea — ¿puede explicarme qué significa?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026