The spleen and its role in immune function. It is a soft, purple, vascular organ, shaped like a small smooth rounded catcher's mitt with notches on the upper front edge. Information on the anatomy of the spleen can be found on our sister website. Like the thymus, the spleen houses and aids in the maturation of immune system cells called lymphocytes. An individual can survive without a spleen. The organ also plays an important role in storing and releasing certain types of immune cells that mediate tissue inflammation. However, people without spleens are more vulnerable to infections. These stored lymphocytes produce antibodies and assist in removing microbes and other debris from the blood supply. The lymphatic system is the system of ducts and lymph nodes which are found under the skin. What does the spleen do? The spleen is an organ the size of a fist found in the left upper quadrant (LUQ) of the abdomen, under the protection of the inferior thoracic cage. The spleen is an organ containing blood vessels and lymph nodes. Once the spleen is removed, however, an individual does have an increased susceptibility to infections due to the loss of immune function for which the liver is unable to compensate. The main function of the spleen is, of course, filtering the blood. An individual can survive without a spleen. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, Considerations After Surgical Removal of the Spleen, Spleen Diseases. The spleen can become enlarged as a result of infection, anemia or cancer. The spleen is a small organ, typically located on the left side of the body, behind the ribcage and stomach.It is the largest organ in the body’s lymphatic system, which is responsible for promoting immune function, filtering the blood, and managing blood volume.. The spleen is composed of two types of tissue: white pulp and red pulp. © 2020 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved. The size and weight of the spleen can vary. It is possible to have the spleen removed and live a healthy life. This organ is part of your immune … Healthy blood cells pass through the spleen and circulate throughout the bloodstream, Red blood cells that are old, malformed, or damaged can't pass through and are broken down in the spleen by macrophages, which are large white blood cells that destroy unhealthy red blood cells, The spleen also saves useful components from the old cells, such as iron, The iron eventually returns to the bone marrow, where the protein, The spleen can hold up to one cup of reserve blood. These stored lymphocytes produce antibodies and assist in removing microbes and other debris from the blood supply. Your spleen is a small organ located on the left side of your abdomen under the rib cage. The spleen is composed of two types of tissue: white pulp and red pulp. . It controls the level of blood cells. It mainly acts as a filter for purifying the blood, removing microbes and worn out or damaged red blood cells. • Wedge shaped 2. The spleen contains blood vessels that carry and circulate bodily fluids and it works with the blood and lymph systems. As the lymph nodes are filters for the lymphatic circulation, the spleen is the primary filtering element for the blood. While the spleen is useful and does perform vital tasks, other organs in the body also work to filter the blood and fight infection, and blood cells are mainly produced in the bones. A person may need a spleen removed if it becomes injured or cancerous. The spleen has some important functions: it fights invading germs in the blood (the spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells) it controls the level of blood cells (white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets) ©1996-2020 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved. This enlargement is a result of an excess of trapped blood cells that can damage the spleen's function. The majority of the spleen's functions are related to the immune system or the blood supply. Your doctor generally can't feel a normal-sized spleen in adults but can feel an enlarged spleen. The spleen is a busy organ usually on the front lines handling various important roles that help the body remain healthy and function efficiently. The spleen is an internal organ, about the size of a fist, found in the human abdomen. The spleen functions as part of the immune system and contributes to the production and storage of blood cells as part of the circulatory system. \"The spleen . If the spleen is severely damaged, it can be removed surgically with a procedure called a splenectomy. In these cases, the outcome is the same; the lack of splenic function means your immune system cannot function optimally and you may be at a greater risk for certain kinds of infections. As the spleen is not the only organ responsible for any of these functions, the spleen is not a necessary organ. Your spleen is an organ located just below your left rib cage. eMedicineHealth does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. eMedicineHealth does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately. The red pulp acts as a filter and storage reservoir for the blood. Then, these cells migrate through marginal zone into the red pulp venous sinusoids and are released into blood. The four most important normal functions of the spleen are as follows: Clearance of microorganisms and particulate antigens from the blood stream Synthesis of immunoglobulin G … Copyright © 2020 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. The spleen controls the level of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets (small cells that form blood clots) . The white pulp of the spleen participates in the immune system by producing the lymphocytes. Spleen Definition. What is a spleen. If the spleen is severely damaged, it can be removed surgically with a procedure called a splenectomy. 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. The spleen is a brownish fist-sized organ located in the upper left side of the abdomen, tucked into a space between the stomach, pancreas and left kidney. The spleen is an organ containing blood vessels and lymph nodes. What is spleen removal? Function of the Spleen . These trabeculae [and capsule too] contains myoepithelial cells which provide them contractile ability. See Additional Information. Structure and function of Spleen 1. Spleen • Lymphatic organ connected to blood vascular system • Part of mononuclear phagocyte system. The spleen is the largest lymphoid organ and has a crucial function in the immune system. It serves important immune functions. Spleen • situated principally in the left hypochondriac region, but its superior extremity extends into the epigastric region 3. Capsule sends numerous septa called trabeculae from the capsule into the parenchyma of the spleen. The spleen is an organ found in almost all vertebrate animals. The majority of the functions of the spleen are taken over by the liver after a splenectomy. The average healthy adult's spleen measures about five inches long, three inches wide, and one and a half inches thick, and a healthy spleen weighs about six ounces. There are two kinds of pulp base… Located in the upper left region of the abdominal cavity, the spleen's primary function is to filter blood of damaged cells, cellular debris, and pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. Functions of the spleen The spleen’s primary job is to filter the blood. acts as a blood filter; it controls the amount of red blood cells and blood storage in the body, and helps to fight infection,\" said Jordan Knowlton, an advanced registered nurse practitioner at the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital. The structure of the spleen enables it to remove older erythrocytes from the circulation and leads to the efficient removal of blood-borne microorganisms and cellular debris. https://medlineplus.gov/spleendiseases.html#summary​. There are many herbal kits that claim to detoxify and support your spleen. The spleen is a useful organ, but it is not vital. It recognizes and removes old, malformed, or damaged red blood cells. Spleen can be fried, used in … The spleen removes old red blood cells, called erythrocytes, from the blood supply and removes, stores and produces white blood cell lymphocytes. The spleen works with other organs in the body to complete the tasks of blood storage, fighting infection and filtering the blood. The weight and size of the spleen vary somewhat through life, and it can weigh from 100 to 250 g in an adult. The spleen plays multiple supporting roles in the body. However, medical supplementation is often needed in such cases. This function, in combination with a h … It also correlates with the Earth element, which is affiliated with worry and rumination. The spleen is responsible for expression, memory function, thoughts, and can be an indicator of someone’s mental stability. It acts as a filter for blood as part of the immune system. The white pulp of the spleen participates in the immune system by producing the lymphocytes. The parenchyma of the spleen is called pulp. Many conditions — including infections, liver disease and some cancers — can cause an enlarged spleen, also known as splenomegaly (spleh-no-MEG-uh-lee).An enlarged spleen usually doesn't cause symptoms. Medline Plus. It contains numerous T and B lymphocytes and also phagocytic immune cells. The spleen removes old red blood cells, called erythrocytes, from the blood supply and removes, stores and produces white blood cell lymphocytes. One major function is that this organ filters blood, removing foreign bodies, microbes, and faulty red blood cells (R… It is a soft, purple, vascular organ, shaped like a small smooth rounded catcher's mitt with notches on the upper front edge. A 2003 study published in The Journal of Medical Acupuncture concluded that subjects of acupuncture lost three times more weight than those who didn't, largely because of increased spleen function 1. Before use, the connective tissue covering is removed. The spleen can become enlarged due to infections, cancers, liver disease, parasites, and other conditions, and can grow in weight to about four pounds. As part of the lymphatic system, the spleen serves multiple major and inter-related functions involving the body’s blood supply; however, despite the significance of what it does, the body can survive without it.2 If removed or damaged, the liver, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and other surrounding organs can take up some of what it does. The spleen is formed partly by lymphatic tissue which produces T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. Splenic Infarction results when blood flow to the spleen is cut off or reduced. This ability is used to pump out the stored blood when body needs it as in case of bleeding or physiological demand as in exercise. The spleen is an organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen, behind the stomach and under the diaphragm. The majority of the spleen's functions are related to the immune system or the blood supply. An enlarged spleen can be detected by physician examination or via diagnostic imaging. It’s one of those organs that people know about, but aren’t sure what it does. Do your research and make sure the company is reputable. The spleen is an organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen, behind the stomach and under the diaphragm. It's often discovered during a routine physical exam. Although the spleen is an important organ, it is not vital for human survival. The spleen has a few important functions: It fights any invading germs in the blood (the spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells). It is particularly important for B cell responses to polysaccharide antigens. The main immunological function of the spleen is to filter the blood by trapping bloodborne microbes and producing an immune response to them. Other functions of the spleen are less prominent, especially in the healthy adult: 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. Because of its function in the immune and circulatory systems, the spleen is surrounded by a multitude of blood and lymph vessels. Located between the stomach and diaphragm underneath the rib cage, the spleen is an average of 12 cm long, 7 cm high and 4 cm thick. Beef spleen will weigh 0.9–1.4 kg, pig spleen 170 g, and sheep spleen 57–85 g. After removal and trimming, the spleens are soaked in water, drained, dried, and then chilled. The spleen is located on the left side of the abdomen and weighs around 200 g in the average healthy adult. The spleen can become enlarged as a result of infection, anemia or cancer. The spleen is a soft, dark-purple organ found in the upper-left portion of the abdomen. 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