Being the largest organ in our lymphatic system, the spleen is located in the upper part of the abdomen, under the rib cage and above the stomach. It is a soft organ and looks purple in colour. Two types of tissue make up the spleen. This tissue is called red pulp and white pulp. The red pulp contains cavities are filled with blood and connective tissues containing red blood cells and white blood cells. The white pulp contains immune cells.
Functions
- Acts as a filter
The primary function of the spleen is to filter blood. When blood passes through the spleen, red blood cells have to pass through narrow passages within the organ. The healthy cells flow through easily but damaged or old red blood cells are broken down by the white blood cells in the spleen and components that are useful, such as iron, are stored by the spleen to be reused in new cells.
- Fights Infections
When the spleen detects viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, it along with the lymph nodes, creates white blood cells called lymphocytes. The lymphocytes produce antibodies that kill the foreign microorganisms and prevent infections from spreading. It also plays an important role in the immune system response.
- Controls the level of blood cells
The spleen controls the level of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in the blood.
Spleen Conditions
- Enlarged spleen is one of the most common conditions and is usually caused by infections such as viral mononucleosis, or diseases like liver disease.
- Ruptured spleen can cause life threatening internal bleeding and is caused due to injury from accidents or sports.
- Sickle cell disease is a condition in which abnormal red blood cells block the flow of blood through the vessels and can cause damage to the spleen.
- Thrombocytopenia occurs when the enlarged spleen stores too many platelets and there aren’t enough platelets circulating in the rest of the body.
- Accessory spleen is a disorder in which there is a much smaller, extra spleen in the body. This however, does not create any complications.
- Spleen cancer is a rare disease.
One can live without the spleen because the other organs of the body will take over and perform some of the functions of the spleen, but without the spleen, the body will lose some of its capability to fight against infections.
Disclaimer: The information in no way constitutes, or should be construed as medical advice. Nor is the above article an endorsement of any research findings discussed in the article an endorsement for any of the source publications.
Sources-
- https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/picture-of-the-spleen
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spleen
- https://www.livescience.com/44725-spleen.html
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