The removal of a small amount of tissue (bone marrow biopsy) and fluid filled with blood cells (bone marrow aspiration) from the central core of a bone, used to diagnose blood disorders such as anemias and cancers; or infectious diseases that affect the marrow; or to gather cells for later infusion into a patient (e.g., in bone marrow transplantation).
An intervention wherein a needle is carefully inserted into the sizable bones of the hip or spine, allowing for the extraction of a small specimen of marrow. This minute sample is subsequently subjected to microscopic scrutiny and analysis.