Which soft connective tissue within the medullary cavities of bones produces blood cells?

Which soft connective tissue within the medullary cavities of bones produces blood cells?

• A. Bone Marrow
• B. Cartilage
• C. Ligament
• D. Innervated

Answer: (A)

Blood cell production, called hematopoiesis, takes place in bone marrow, the soft connective tissue that fills the medullary cavities of bones. In red bone marrow, hematopoietic stem cells generate red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. As people age, much of this red marrow is replaced by yellow marrow, which stores fat and does not produce blood cells. The other options aren’t tissues within the medullary cavity or capable of forming blood cells—cartilage is firm and avascular, ligaments are dense connective tissue that connect bone to bone, and innervated isn’t a tissue type. Therefore, bone marrow is the tissue responsible for producing blood cells inside medullary cavities.

Blood cell production, called hematopoiesis, takes place in bone marrow, the soft connective tissue that fills the medullary cavities of bones. In red bone marrow, hematopoietic stem cells generate red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. As people age, much of this red marrow is replaced by yellow marrow, which stores fat and does not produce blood cells. The other options aren’t tissues within the medullary cavity or capable of forming blood cells—cartilage is firm and avascular, ligaments are dense connective tissue that connect bone to bone, and innervated isn’t a tissue type. Therefore, bone marrow is the tissue responsible for producing blood cells inside medullary cavities.