What is the function of the spleen?
The spleen is a small organ inside your left rib cage, just above the stomach. It’s part of the lymphatic system (which is part of the immune system). The spleen stores and filters blood and makes white blood cells that protect you from infection. Many diseases and conditions can affect how the spleen works. A ruptured (torn) spleen can be fatal.
What is the splenic architecture of the spleen?
Splenic Architecture The spleen is divided by function and structure into the red and white pulp; in between these two regions is the marginal zone (MZ) in rodents and the perifollicular zone in humans (1, 2) (Fig. 1).
How much blood does the spleen hold in reserve?
When vessels are expanded, your spleen can actually hold up to a cup of reserve blood. If for any reason you need some extra blood – for example, if trauma causes you to lose blood – your spleen can respond by releasing that reserve blood back into your system.
Why is the spleen not a necessary organ?
As a spleen becomes enlarged, it becomes more fragile and is more likely to be damaged in an accident. As the spleen is not the only organ responsible for any of these functions, the spleen is not a necessary organ. It is possible to have the spleen removed and live a healthy life.
The spleen is the largest secondary lymphoid organ in the body and, as such, hosts a wide range of immunologic functions alongside its roles in hematopoiesis and red blood cell clearance.
What happens when blood flows into the spleen?
When blood flows into your spleen, your spleen performs “quality control”; your red blood cells must pass through a maze of narrow passages. Healthy blood cells simply pass through the spleen and continue to circulate throughout your bloodstream.
Why do we vent our spleens?
This is because in medieval times, the spleen was thought to be the literal, physical source of a hot temper. People thought that “venting” their spleens would remove excess anger. Fortunately, we have learned a lot since then about the spleen’s purpose in our bodies. Where Is the Spleen?
What happens if you don’t have a spleen?
Other parts of your body, like your lymph nodes and your liver, are able to step in and take over many of your spleen’s functions. Because the spleen is so important to your immune system, people without spleens are more vulnerable to infections.
How does the spleen affect the red blood cells?
It affects the number of red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout your body, and the number of platelets, which are cells that help your blood to clot. It does this by breaking down and removing cells that are abnormal, old, or damaged. The spleen also stores red blood cells, platelets, and infection-fighting white blood cells.
What happens to the spleen in a car accident?
The spleen holds reserve blood in case of significant bleeding, much like a blood-filled balloon, and acts as a reserve source of extra blood. In a trauma situation, particularly a severe car crash where an individual is wearing a seat belt, the force of impact can actually cause the spleen to rupture and begin to hemorrhage blood.