View source for Medullary cavity

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 (which is why medullary cavity is also known as 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.<ref>Martini F., & Nath J. L. (2009). Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology 8e. San Francisco, CA: Pearson Education Inc.</ref> 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]].

== See also==
*[[Bone marrow]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}<!--added above External links/Sources by script-assisted edit-->

==External links==
* {{DorlandsDict|nine/20799676|Medullary cavity}}

{{Bone and cartilage}}

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[[Category:Lymphatic system]]
[[Category:Skeletal system]]

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