Question

A client is experiencing bone marrow depression following a round of chemotherapy. As a result, he is more prone to infection. The nurse explains that this condition will reverse itself given enough time. This will occur because bone marrow cells:

a) are pluripotent stem cells.

b) go dormant while under duress.

c) are known as stable cells.

d) are categorized as labile cells.

Answer 1

Bone marrow cells are pluripotent stem cells that can regenerate after being suppressed by chemotherapy, allowing the function of the bone marrow to recover over time by continuously producing new blood cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The bone marrow depression a client experiences after chemotherapy is reversible because bone marrow cells are capable of regenerating. The correct answer is that these cells are pluripotent stem cells, which means they have the ability to differentiate into various types of blood cells needed by the body, including those that are part of the immune response.

Bone marrow contains hematopoietic stem cells which are responsible for creating new blood cells continuously throughout an individual's life. These stem cells go through mitosis and cytokinesis to produce daughter cells, where one remains a stem cell and the other differentiates into one of the many types of blood cells. This ongoing process is what allows the recovery of the bone marrow's function over time after being suppressed by chemotherapy.

Furthermore, in cases where the bone marrow is irreversibly damaged, such as by cancer, a bone marrow transplant may be required for a patient's survival. Hematopoietic stem cells from a donor can be infused into the recipient's bloodstream to establish new, healthy bone marrow and restore its blood-forming capabilities.