Which of the following is an example of radiosensitive tissue?

Bone marrow is considered an example of radiosensitive tissue because it contains a high proportion of actively dividing cells. This characteristic makes it more susceptible to damage from ionizing radiation. When exposed to radiation, the rapidly dividing cells in the bone marrow can be affected more severely compared to other tissues that have slower cell turnover rates.

In the context of radiation exposure, tissues that consist of a large number of dividing cells, such as bone marrow, are particularly vulnerable to the detrimental effects of radiation, which can lead to conditions like radiation-induced leukemia. This radiobiological principle is crucial in both medical imaging and radiation therapy, as it helps dictate safety protocols and treatment planning to minimize harm to sensitive tissues.

Other tissues, such as skin and liver, can also be affected by radiation, but their cellular turnover rates and responsiveness to radiation differ. Muscle tissue is typically more resistant to the effects of radiation when compared to bone marrow, further underscoring the unique vulnerability of actively dividing tissues. Thus, identifying bone marrow as radiosensitive is important for understanding the impact of radiation in clinical settings.