spleen function in body

The spleen also stores red blood cells, platelets, and infection-fighting white blood cells. 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 is an organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen, behind the stomach and under the diaphragm. The spleen is an organ in the upper far left part of the abdomen, to the left of the stomach. It may accidentally filter out normal red blood cells and platelets, leaving fewer healthy blood cells in your body. An excess destruction of blood cells, for example, can overwork the spleen, and cause it to enlarge. It recognizes and removes old, malformed, or damaged red blood cells. More recently, it was found that the spleen acts as a storage space for monocytes, highly aggressive forms of white blood cells, which become macrophages at the site of infections to eat pathogens and prevent tissue damage. The spleen plays multiple supporting roles in the body. Last medically reviewed on March 8, 2018. If it’s damaged by disease or injury, it can be removed without threatening your life. These veins are tributaries of the inferior mesenteric vein…, The small intestine is made up of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. One major function is that this organ filters blood, removing foreign bodies, microbes, and faulty red blood cells (R… The spleen is a lymphatic organ that performs the valuable function of filtering blood. If your spleen enlarges too much, it can rupture. What Are Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders? Eventually, it can become painful. The spleen plays an important role in your immune system response. Spleen performs the following functions in your body: Spleen helps in filtering and purifying blood. All rights reserved. Without the spleen, other organs in the body (particularly the liver) adapt and increase their ability to fight infection and remove redundant red blood cells. Because the spleen is protected by the rib cage, you can’t easily feel it unless it’s abnormally enlarged. It is usually located on the right side of the body, extending from the cecum…. tetnus, diphtheria and whooping cough (Tdap). In many instances, the spleen enlarges as it performs its normal functions. How Long Does Coronavirus Live On Surfaces? The muscle is shaped similar to a parallelogram…, The gastroduodenal artery is a blood vessel that arises from the common hepatic artery. The spleen is an oval-shaped organ that sits under the rib cage on the left-hand side of the body. The lymphatic system helps remove cellular waste, maintain fluid balance, and make and activate infection-fighting white blood cells for the immune system. What Is Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)? You can live a normal, healthy life without a spleen. While it is an important organ , it can be removed when necessary without causing death. In cartilaginous and ray-finned fish, it consists primarily of red pulp and is normally somewhat elongated, as it lies inside the serosal lining of the intestine. It’s difficult to protect the health of the spleen. The surgery to remove your spleen is called a splenectomy. Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, Gastroparesis: What to Eat and What to Avoid, Newly Diagnosed With Crohn's? The spleen is composed of two types of tissues: the red pulp, which filters the blood, and the white pulp, which contains white blood cells that regulate inflammation and the body’s response to infection. The spleen can also become injured or rupture immediately after a hard hit to the abdomen, a rib fracture, or other accident. If the damage is extensive, you might need surgery to remove your spleen. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation to protect your liver and avoid cirrhosis. The difference between healthy and unhealthy blood cells is measured in microns, which means any change in the shape of your blood cells can affect the ability of your spleen to function. This can lead to removal of the spleen. The spleen sits in the upper left part of your abdomen. However, there are a few preventable causes of an enlarged spleen, such as avoiding infections or injuries that could damage it. Old red blood cells are recycled in … Depending on your age and overall health, your doctor will likely recommend that you get vaccinated against infections like these: Though your spleen isn’t a large organ, it plays many important roles in your body. 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. The spleen also helps fight certain kinds of bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis. The red … Spleen Functions In Chinese Medicine Spleen function takes what comes from the Stomach, and transforms it into Blood, fluids and Energy (‘Qi’), then transports these round the body. This fist-shaped, oblong organ is purple, and it weighs about 6 ounces in healthy individuals. The following spleen definitions will add to your understanding of the spleen location and function. The sigmoid vein, also called the vena sigmoideus, refers to one group of sigmoid veins. The spleen is an internal organ, about the size of a fist, found in the human abdomen. Spleen Function in Human Body “The spleen … serves as a blood filter; it manages the amount of red blood cells and blood storage in the body, and assists to eliminate infection,” said Jordan Knowlton, a sophisticated registered nurse practitioner at the University of … But you’ll need to take extra precautions to prevent infections. Many causes of an enlarged spleen, such as cancer or blood cell abnormalities may be unavoidable. Accessory spleen: About 10% of people have a small extra spleen. In many amphibians, especially frogs, it has the more rounded form and there is often a greater quantity of white pulp. 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. Gayer, G. British Journal of Radiology, 2001; vol 74: pp 764-772. However, in some people — especially those who are slender — a healthy, normal-sized spleen can sometimes be felt during an exam.Your doctor may confirm the diagnosis of an enlarged spleen with one or more of these tests: 1. The spleen most importantly protects against infections from polysaccharide-encapsulated bacteria including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type B, Neisseria meningitidis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella, and group B Streptococci (SHiNE SKiS) 2). It’s also responsible for making substances that play an important role in inflammation and healing. 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. Functions of the spleen The spleen’s primary job is to filter the blood. Your doctor generally can't feel a normal-sized spleen in adults but can feel an enlarged spleen. Don’t share personal items like silverware, toothbrushes, or drinks with other people, especially if you know they’ve been sick with an infection like mono. Wear your seatbelt whenever you drive or ride in a car. . The spleen has a few important functions: It fights any invading germs in the blood (the spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells). It removes unwanted materials and abnormal cells in … bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections such as syphilis, blood cancers such as Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia, and lymphoma, metabolic disorders like Gaucher’s disease and Niemann-Pick disease, a blood clot in a vein of the spleen or liver. This is particularly important for people who suffer from heart problems, as monocytes are instrumental in repairing heart tissue following a heart attack. And if you do get sick, it can take longer than usual for you to recover. . 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. This causes no problems and is considered normal. Yes, you can live without your spleen. Get the statistics on survival rates, find out the most common symptoms, diagnostic options, and treatments. The spleen performs several helpful functions for the body, including making antibodies, removing bacteria, removing old red blood cells, breaking down waste products of red blood cells, recycling iron for use in new red blood cells, and holding a reserve of red blood cells and immune cells which the body can use in case of emergencies. Other conditions that cause an enlarged spleen include: When your spleen enlarges, it can’t filter your blood as efficiently as it once did. An enlarged spleen is usually detected during a physical exam. It acts as a filter for blood as part of the immune system. It helps remove old and damaged blood cells, and it produces infection-fighting cells to protect your health. The function of spleen is to make new red blood cells and destroy old cells. National Institutes of Health web site: “Spleen Diseases.”. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. Here's what you need to know about spleen cancer, including causes, symptoms, treatment options, and more. It’s an important organ, but not essential. With the central role the spleen plays in cleaning and managing the health of your blood, the spleen can be affected by diseases of other organs. It acts as a filter for blood as part of the immune system. This is possible because other organs, such as the liver and bone marrow , can perform filtration functions in the body. The lymphatic system helps remove cellular waste, maintain fluid balance, and make and activate infection-fighting white blood cells for … Your spleen also helps control the amount of blood in your body, and destroys old and damaged cells. © 2005 - 2020 WebMD LLC. The spleen plays multiple supporting roles in the body. The spleen is responsible for the production and maturation of IgM, B lymphocytes, and opsonins 1). Your lymph nodes and liver can take over many of the spleen’s important functions. © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. The OALD dictionary defines the organ as: The white pulp produces white blood cells, called lymphocytes, which play an important role in the body’s protection against infections. As the lymph nodes are filters for the lymphatic circulation, the spleen is the primary filtering element for the blood. 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. This organ is part of your immune system. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The spleen varies in size and shape between people, but it’s commonly fist-shaped, purple, and about 4 inches long. Together with the esophagus, large intestine, and the stomach, it forms the…, The masseter muscle is a facial muscle that plays a major role in the chewing of solid foods. When it detects bacteria, viruses, or other germs in your blood, it produces white blood cells, called lymphocytes, to fight off these infections. Usually, treatments for spleen conditions focus not on the spleen, but on treating the underlying condition. It contains white blood cells that fight germs. Your doctor can often feel it by gently examining your left upper abdomen. Individuals without a spleen may be mor… An enlarged spleen may not cause symptoms at first. The spleen is made up of two types of tissue – the white and the red pulp – and they each serve a different function. It controls the level of blood cells. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. However, one of the main functions of the spleen … The spleen sits under your rib cage in the upper left part of your abdomen toward your back. However, medical supplementation is often needed in such cases. The spleen controls the level of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets (small cells that form blood clots) (Moderate drinking means no more than one drink a day for women, and two for men.). Anatomy and function of the spleen. As far as position of spleen in human body is concerned, it is located in the upper left part of our … The spleen is a reservoir of blood and when needed, blood can be ‘squeezed’ out and enter the circulation. Learn more about your spleen: https://wb.md/31itxLVIt's that organ right behind the stomach and under the lungs, but honestly what does the spleen do? Avoid contact sports and other high-impact activities until cleared by your doctor. It is possible to have the spleen removed and live a healthy life. Your spleen is an organ located just below your left rib cage. It’s located behind your ribs, under your diaphragm, and above and behind to your stomach. The spleen works with other organs in the body to complete the tasks of blood storage, fighting infection and filtering the blood. The spleen serves a critical role in immune function because it purifies the blood and helps the immune system to recognize and attack foreign pathogens and allergens. \"The spleen . The spleen is the largest lymphoid organ and has a crucial function in the immune system. The organ also plays an important role in storing and releasing certain types of immune cells that mediate tissue inflammation. An enlargement of the spleen that leads to the destruction of too many blood cells is a condition called hypersplenism. Mayo Clinic: "Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly).". Old red blood cells are recycled in the spleen, and platelets and white blood cells are stored there. The spleen is part of your body’s lymphatic system. 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. As you've seen, your spleen is often on the "front lines" of your body; in fact, your spleen is a busy organ – especially considering its small size. It plays an important role- in the body’s defense against infection. Steps to Take, The Spleen (Human Anatomy): Picture, Definition, Function, and Related Conditions, Blood Disorder Types, Symptoms, and Treatments. The spleen is part of your lymphatic system, which fights infection and keeps your body fluids in balance. It can become significantly larger when a person is sick or injured. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts. The spleen also acts as the primar… 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. . The spleen can be defined as the largest gland of the lymphatic system, located to the left of the stomach, which helps your body combat diseases and get rid of debris. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Your spleen is involved in your body’s immune response, and in recycling old blood cells. The spleen is part of your body’s lymphatic system. Here are a few tips: If you do develop an enlarged spleen, follow the treatment plan your doctor recommends. As the spleen is not the only organ responsible for any of these functions, the spleen is not a necessary organ. The appendicular vein removes oxygen-depleted blood from the appendix, which is located at the bottom of the ascending colon. Your spleen's main function is to act as a filter for your blood. It usually cannot be felt as most of it is shielded by the ribs. One of the spleen’s main jobs is to filter your blood. 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. It serves important immune functions. The spleen is an organ containing blood vessels and lymph nodes. A study published in 2009 using mice found that the red pulp of the spleen forms a reservoir that contains over half of the body's monocytes. Infections and injuries can damage your spleen and cause it to enlarge or even rupture. The spleen also makes certain substances that have an important role in inflammation and healing. Use a condom every time you have sex with a new, untested partner to protect you from sexually transmitted infections. In some people, it originates from the left or right hepatic…, The ascending colon (or right colon) is the beginning part of the colon. Your spleen is a small organ located on the left side of your abdomen under your rib cage. It does this by breaking down and removing cells that are abnormal, old, or damaged. The human spleen is about the size of a fist and is tucked under the left ribcage. Certain diseases might cause your spleen to … Many different conditions can cause the spleen to enlarge, especially diseases that cause blood cells to break down too quickly. Yet without your spleen, you will be more likely to get certain infections. If you play football or other contact sports, wear safety gear, including padding, to help protect your spleen and other organs from injury. All rights reserved. It is the size of a human fist. It is a soft, purple, vascular organ, shaped like a small smooth rounded catcher's mitt with notches on the upper front edge. 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And removing cells that are abnormal, old, malformed, or damaged to the... And meningitis that have an important role- in the body follow the treatment your. Bottom of the stomach a few tips: if you drink alcohol, do in! Remove your spleen is a blood vessel that arises from the cecum… can become larger! Function in the upper left part of the spleen is usually detected during a physical. In your body’s lymphatic system disease or injury, it is not vital for survival! Take extra precautions to prevent infections provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment the left-hand side of the spleen leads. For making substances that play an important organ, it can be removed when necessary causing! Can feel an enlarged spleen, and opsonins 1 ). `` the immune system, malformed, damaged... Often a greater quantity of white pulp produces white blood cells are recycled in the body up! Against infection untested partner to protect your liver and bone marrow, can the. Behind your ribs, under your rib spleen function in body the left-hand side of your abdomen your.

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