Unlike the stomach, liver, or kidneys, it is not directly connected to the other organs in your abdomen. Advertisement. As the spleen continues to increase in length, it can easily rapture and bleed internally which is a threat to your life. The area of the spleen affected by loss of blood supply or essentially the regions where the tissue death in the spleen has occurred is known as splenic infarct. Spleen tumor in dogs is a type of metastatic cancer that is highly dangerous and with poor survival rates, most commonly seen in certain dog breeds. The weight of the spleen may vary between 150 to 200 grams (5 to 7 ounces). Spleen and stomach are at their strongest between 7-11am, so breakfast is important; Spleen and stomach are at their weakest between 7-11pm, so better to have the last meal of the day before 7pm; Chew your food thoroughly. Know the causes, signs, symptoms, treatment and diagnosis of splenic infarction. Surgical removal of the spleen is called splenectomy. Your doctor can diagnose an enlarged spleen by performing a physical examination and by doing different diagnostic tests (blood tests, CT, ultrasound, MRI). This organ forms part of lymph system and does the duty of drainage work, protecting your body from infection. The spleen has many roles; it filters the blood and removes old, abnormal, and damaged red blood cells. It is soft and purple, shaped like a very small smooth rounded catcher's mitt with notches on its upper front edge. The spleen is part of your lymphatic system, which fights infection and keeps your body fluids in balance.It contains white blood cells that fight germs. It sits to the left and slightly behind an organ that you’re probably more familiar with, your stomach. Cancer of the spleen usually occurs when another type of cancer spreads. However, there is a small risk that a serious infection may develop quickly. The spleen also stores blood — the blood vessels of the spleen can expand significantly. Although your spleen is protected by the rib cage, it is susceptible to traumatic injury 9. Instead, the spleen is connected to your blood vessels, with an artery that brings blood to it and a vein which takes the blood away. The spleen is an organ situated behind the stomach, in the upper left part of the abdomen known as the left hypochondrium. The Spleen. It is located in the left side of your upper abdominal … Your spleen is located under your ribcage, on the upper left side of your abdomen. Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) symptoms may include pain in the upper abdomen, indigestion, or hiccups. Splenomegaly can occur due the following: Fig 5 – Enlarged spleen. Healthy red blood cells have a lifespan of only 120 days, and your body uses the passages in the spleen to capture these old cells and break them down to reuse the iron they contain. The spleen is an approximately 5-inch by 3-inch organ that is located in the upper left abdominal area. The spleen is found on the left side of your body, behind the stomach on a level with the 9th to 11th ribs. Your spleen is located on the left side of your abdomen, underneath the diaphragm. The spleen is a soft and spongy organ with a thin elastic capsule around it covering the inner part known as the splenic pulp. A 21-year-old female asked: what is the spleen? A number of diseases and conditions can cause an enlarged spleen. It belongs to the lymphatic system, which functions as a protection against infections. Spleen is located on the left side of the stomach well beneath the rib cage. Brisbane nurse Carolyn Hartwig has been living without a spleen since undergoing surgery nearly 30 years ago to treat a rare medical anomaly. Your spleen is an organ above your stomach and under your ribs on your left side. The spleen also commonly enlarges with a variety of infections and other noninfectious disorders 9. Posted 4 d days ago Sat Saturday 15 Aug August 2020 at … The spleen plays important roles in regard to red blood cells (erythrocytes) and the immune system. Spleen is found in almost all vertebrate animals. Avoid drinking too much with your … The job of the spleen is to filter toxins in the blood and keep infections at bay. Symptoms include an enlarged spleen … You may need to rest in bed and limit your activity. Spleen pain can occur as a result of many things including conditions like rupture of the spleen and enlargement of spleen. Drainage: Draining may be done to clean out any old blood or bile (brownish fluid) in your abdomen. It … It is a very small organ, somewhat of the shape of your fist. The patient is then asked to take a deep breath and spleen is felt at the end of deep inspiration. Infections. If your spleen needs to be removed, other organs such as the liver can take over many of the spleen's functions. It is located just behind the stomach and under the diaphragm. Your caregiver will watch you closely for a period of time until your liver or spleen injury heals on its own. That’s right, it is in fact possible to live without a spleen - 3,000 Queenslanders are currently living without a spleen or with reduced spleen function. (10th rib is in line with the long axis of the spleen) The spleen is part of the immune system and plays an important role in fighting infections. After spleen removal, certain steps can help reduce your risk of infection, including: A series of vaccinations both before and after the splenectomy. The spleen also filters your blood, trapping and attacking bacteria and viruses, and removing and recycling old or deformed red blood cells 9. The most common reasons to do a splenectomy are to treat a ruptured spleen, an enlarged spleen or other disorders of the spleen and blood disorders. Spleen lies in the left upper quadrant of abdomen, covered by the 9th, 10th and 11th ribs of the left side and upper part of stomach in front, and the upper part of left kidney behind. Your spleen is a vital part of your lymphatic system which is responsible for filtering out infections, viruses, bacteria, and other dangerous pathogens from your blood. The spleen contains two main types of tissue - white pulp and red pulp. The tail of pancreas is attached to the hilum of the spleen. The inferior vena cava and the hepatic artery, coming from the heart, are located to the right of the spleen. Measure the enlargement from the tip of the 10th costal cartilage on the Left side towards the right iliac fossa. When examined by a doctor, it cannot be felt under normal conditions. Spleen is found under your ribs on the upper left portion of the abdomen. The splenic infarction can be partial or complete. A component of the immune system, the spleen is connected to the lymphatic system. The organ is protected by the rib cage. It is a small soft organ performing several functions for your body. Now, raise your hand if you know exactly where your spleen is located? Where is your spleen located? The spleen is purplish in color, and some would say it resembles a small catcher’s mitt. The spleen also works as a recycling center. The spleen can expand up to 3 times its size and this can significantly increase its weight. It is possible to live without your spleen. It is about as big as your fist. The spleen is a fist-sized organ that sits under your rib cage on the left side of your abdomen. Do you know the answers to Google's most-asked questions? It is filled with blood and works to filter out old, damaged red blood cells as well as produce lymphocytes, white blood cells that make antibodies. It resembles a large lymph node … 4. The spleen is located under the left side of the diaphragm and near the stomach, pancreas, liver and the heart. Organ in abdomen: The spleen is an abdominal organ under the diaphragm on the left side. Your spleen is located in the upper left region of your abdomen – just behind your stomach and under your diaphragm. This may be done more than once. This means you will still be able to cope with most infections. Note the following features if the spleen is palpable. Spleen is an organ that is spongy, oval shaped and its size is that of a fist. 67 years experience Rheumatology. Blood cells are produced in the spleen and it stores iron in the hemoglobin for further usage. Dr. William Lages answered. The spleen is one of the internal organs within the abdomen. When the underlying cause is identified, this is treated. Treatment for an enlarged spleen depends on the condition causing it. Your spleen can become enlarged, a condition known as splenomegaly. Spleen roughly measures the size of your fist but when it gets enlarged it can grow up in size pressing the stomach and liver. Further tests might be needed to get to the root of the problem. Where is your spleen and how old is Uluru? where is your spleen located. Infections, such as mononucleosis, are among the most common causes of splenomegaly.Problems with your … It is similar in structure to a lymph node and is the largest lymphatic organ in the body. The spleen is a small, purple-colored organ, about the size of a fist, which is located in the left side of the abdomen [1].It usually measures up to 4 inches long [2] and weighs about 0.44 pounds [3].. The fist-sized organ is found in the left side of the abdomen, immediately below the rib cage. This organ is located in the hypochondrium. An enlarged spleen is caused by other illness like low platelet count, infections (mono, hepatitis, TB), liver disease from alcohol use, anemia, leukemia, and lymphoma. 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