Medullary cavity
Medullary Cavity | |
---|---|
![]() A long bone, with medullary cavity labeled near center. | |
Details | |
Identifiers | |
Latin | cavitas medullaris |
TA | A02.0.00.037 |
FMA | 83698 |
Anatomical terminology |
The medullary cavity (medulla, innermost part) 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 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.[1]
This area is involved in the formation of red blood cells and white blood cells, and the calcium supply for bird eggshells.
Intramedullary is a medical term meaning the inside of a bone. Examples include intramedullary rods used to treat bone fractures in orthopedic surgery and intramedullary tumors occurring in some forms of cancer or benign tumors such as an enchondroma.