Medullary cavity
Encyclopedia
The medullary cavity is the central cavity of bone
shafts where red bone marrow
and/or yellow bone marrow (adipose tissue) is stored; hence, the medullary cavity is also known as the marrow cavity. Located in the main shaft (cortical bone) of a long bone (diaphysis
) (consisting mostly of compact bone), the medullary cavity has walls composed of spongy bone (cancellous bone) and is lined with a thin, vascular membrane (endosteum
). However, the medullary cavity is the area inside any bone (long, flat, etc.) that holds the bone marrow. The clavicle is the only long bone that does not contain a medullary cavity.
This area is involved in the formation of red blood cells and white blood cells.
Intramedullary is a medical term meaning the inside of a bone
. Examples include intramedullary rod
s used to treat bone fractures in orthopedic surgery
and intramedullary tumor
s occurring in some forms of cancer
or benign tumors such as an enchondroma
.
Bone
Bones are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue...
shafts where red bone marrow
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg...
and/or yellow bone marrow (adipose tissue) is stored; hence, the medullary cavity is also known as the marrow cavity. Located in the main shaft (cortical bone) of a long bone (diaphysis
Diaphysis
The diaphysis is the main or mid section of a long bone. It is made up of cortical bone and usually contains bone marrow and adipose tissue ....
) (consisting mostly of compact bone), the medullary cavity has walls composed of spongy bone (cancellous bone) and is lined with a thin, vascular membrane (endosteum
Endosteum
In anatomy the endosteum is a thin layer of connective tissue that lines the surface of the bony tissue that forms the medullary cavity of long bones. This endosteal surface is usually resorbed during long periods of malnutrition, resulting in less cortical thickness...
). However, the medullary cavity is the area inside any bone (long, flat, etc.) that holds the bone marrow. The clavicle is the only long bone that does not contain a medullary cavity.
This area is involved in the formation of red blood cells and white blood cells.
Intramedullary is a medical term meaning the inside of a bone
Bone
Bones are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue...
. Examples include intramedullary rod
Intramedullary rod
An intramedullary rod, also known as an intramedullary nail or inter-locking nail or Küntscher nail, is a metal rod forced into the medullary cavity of a bone. IM nails have long been used to treat fractures of long bones of the body. Gerhard Küntscher is credited with the first use of this device...
s used to treat bone fractures in orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system...
and intramedullary tumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
s occurring in some forms of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
or benign tumors such as an enchondroma
Enchondroma
An Enchondroma is a cartilage cyst found in the bone marrow. Typically, enchondroma is discovered on a X-ray scan. Enchondromas have a characteristic appearance on Magnetic Resonance Imaging as well. They have also been reported to cause increased uptake on PET...
.