National Institutes of Health web site: âSpleen Diseases.â. Steps to Take, The Spleen (Human Anatomy): Picture, Definition, Function, and Related Conditions, Blood Disorder Types, Symptoms, and Treatments. It is a soft, purple, vascular organ, shaped like a small smooth rounded catcher's mitt with notches on the upper front edge. The spleen sits under your rib cage in the upper left part of your abdomen toward your back. These veins are tributaries of the inferior mesenteric veinâ¦, The small intestine is made up of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The spleen plays multiple supporting roles in the body. Your spleen's main function is to act as a filter for your blood. One of the spleenâs main jobs is to filter your blood. Your lymph nodes and liver can take over many of the spleenâs important functions. 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. 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. 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. Many different conditions can cause the spleen to enlarge, especially diseases that cause blood cells to break down too quickly. The spleen is responsible for the production and maturation of IgM, B lymphocytes, and opsonins 1). The sigmoid vein, also called the vena sigmoideus, refers to one group of sigmoid veins. The OALD dictionary defines the organ as: The spleen controls the level of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets (small cells that form blood clots) As far as position of spleen in human body is concerned, it is located in the upper left part of our … Many causes of an enlarged spleen, such as cancer or blood cell abnormalities may be unavoidable. 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. In many amphibians, especially frogs, it has the more rounded form and there is often a greater quantity of white pulp. It may accidentally filter out normal red blood cells and platelets, leaving fewer healthy blood cells in your body. Anatomy and function of the spleen. If you play football or other contact sports, wear safety gear, including padding, to help protect your spleen and other organs from injury. Functions of the spleen The spleen’s primary job is to filter the blood. This fist-shaped, oblong organ is purple, and it weighs about 6 ounces in healthy individuals. Your spleen is involved in your bodyâs immune response, and in recycling old blood cells. Your doctor can often feel it by gently examining your left upper abdomen. It plays an important role- in the body’s defense against infection. In some people, it originates from the left or right hepaticâ¦, The ascending colon (or right colon) is the beginning part of the colon. The spleen sits in the upper left part of your abdomen. The spleen also helps fight certain kinds of bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis. Get the statistics on survival rates, find out the most common symptoms, diagnostic options, and treatments. This causes no problems and is considered normal. The spleen is a lymphatic organ that performs the valuable function of filtering blood. tetnus, diphtheria and whooping cough (Tdap). It helps remove old and damaged blood cells, and it produces infection-fighting cells to protect your health. Because the spleen is protected by the rib cage, you canât easily feel it unless itâs abnormally enlarged. The spleen is an organ containing blood vessels and lymph nodes. Usually, treatments for spleen conditions focus not on the spleen, but on treating the underlying condition. The spleen is made up of two types of tissue – the white and the red pulp – and they each serve a different function. Wear your seatbelt whenever you drive or ride in a car. It recognizes and removes old, malformed, or damaged red blood cells. It acts as a filter for blood as part of the immune system. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. Individuals without a spleen may be mor… 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 red … \"The spleen . 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. Here's what you need to know about spleen cancer, including causes, symptoms, treatment options, and more. This organ is part of your immune system. All rights reserved. Donât share personal items like silverware, toothbrushes, or drinks with other people, especially if you know theyâve been sick with an infection like mono. Accessory spleen: About 10% of people have a small extra spleen. 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 is an organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen, behind the stomach and under the diaphragm. bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections such as syphilis, blood cancers such as Hodgkinâs disease, leukemia, and lymphoma, metabolic disorders like Gaucherâs disease and Niemann-Pick disease, a blood clot in a vein of the spleen or liver. The spleen has a few important functions: It fights any invading germs in the blood (the spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells). If itâs damaged by disease or injury, it can be removed without threatening your life. 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. 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. Other conditions that cause an enlarged spleen include: When your spleen enlarges, it canât filter your blood as efficiently as it once did. An enlarged spleen is usually detected during a physical exam. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. The human spleen is about the size of a fist and is tucked under the left ribcage. However, one of the main functions of the spleen … Old red blood cells are recycled in … 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. Itâs located behind your ribs, under your diaphragm, and above and behind to your stomach. However, there are a few preventable causes of an enlarged spleen, such as avoiding infections or injuries that could damage it. 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. Here are a few tips: If you do develop an enlarged spleen, follow the treatment plan your doctor recommends. The spleen also stores red blood cells, platelets, and infection-fighting white blood cells. 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 Is Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)? It acts as a filter for blood as part of the immune system. As the lymph nodes are filters for the lymphatic circulation, the spleen is the primary filtering element for the blood. 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. An enlargement of the spleen that leads to the destruction of too many blood cells is a condition called hypersplenism. © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. This can lead to removal of the spleen. Itâs an important organ, but not essential. Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, Gastroparesis: What to Eat and What to Avoid, Newly Diagnosed With Crohn's? The organ also plays an important role in storing and releasing certain types of immune cells that mediate tissue inflammation. This is possible because other organs, such as the liver and bone marrow , can perform filtration functions in the body. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 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. Spleen performs the following functions in your body: Spleen helps in filtering and purifying 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 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). The spleen is part of your bodyâs lymphatic system. It removes unwanted materials and abnormal cells in … Old red blood cells are recycled in the spleen, and platelets and white blood cells are stored there. The spleen is part of your lymphatic system, which fights infection and keeps your body fluids in balance. . An excess destruction of blood cells, for example, can overwork the spleen, and cause it to enlarge. The spleen is a reservoir of blood and when needed, blood can be ‘squeezed’ out and enter the circulation. The spleen plays an important role in your immune system response. As the spleen is not the only organ responsible for any of these functions, the spleen is not a necessary organ. The spleen also makes certain substances that have an important role in inflammation and healing. The appendicular vein removes oxygen-depleted blood from the appendix, which is located at the bottom of the ascending colon. Last medically reviewed on March 8, 2018. Yes, you can live without your spleen. The spleen is an organ in the upper far left part of the abdomen, to the left of the stomach. 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? The spleen also acts as the primar… But youâll need to take extra precautions to prevent infections. It usually cannot be felt as most of it is shielded by the ribs. Avoid contact sports and other high-impact activities until cleared by your doctor. 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 is the largest lymphoid organ and has a crucial function in the immune system. If the damage is extensive, you might need surgery to remove your spleen. However, medical supplementation is often needed in such cases. It serves important immune functions. Your doctor generally can't feel a normal-sized spleen in adults but can feel an enlarged spleen. 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. The surgery to remove your spleen is called a splenectomy. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation to protect your liver and avoid cirrhosis. (Moderate drinking means no more than one drink a day for women, and two for men.). Yet without your spleen, you will be more likely to get certain infections. Infections and injuries can damage your spleen and cause it to enlarge or even rupture. And if you do get sick, it can take longer than usual for you to recover. It is possible to have the spleen removed and live a healthy life. The spleen works with other organs in the body to complete the tasks of blood storage, fighting infection and filtering the blood. Certain diseases might cause your spleen to … The white pulp produces white blood cells, called lymphocytes, which play an important role in the body’s protection against infections. Your spleen is an organ located just below your left rib cage. It is usually located on the right side of the body, extending from the cecumâ¦. 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. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Use a condom every time you have sex with a new, untested partner to protect you from sexually transmitted infections. The lymphatic system helps remove cellular waste, maintain fluid balance, and make and activate infection-fighting white blood cells for the immune system. Itâs also responsible for making substances that play an important role in inflammation and healing. One major function is that this organ filters blood, removing foreign bodies, microbes, and faulty red blood cells (R… © 2005 - 2020 WebMD LLC. Your spleen also helps control the amount of blood in your body, and destroys old and damaged cells. The spleen varies in size and shape between people, but itâs commonly fist-shaped, purple, and about 4 inches long. You can live a normal, healthy life without a spleen. The function of spleen is to make new red blood cells and destroy old cells. Itâs difficult to protect the health of the spleen. Together with the esophagus, large intestine, and the stomach, it forms theâ¦, The masseter muscle is a facial muscle that plays a major role in the chewing of solid foods. In many instances, the spleen enlarges as it performs its normal functions. How Long Does Coronavirus Live On Surfaces? It can become significantly larger when a person is sick or injured. The spleen can also become injured or rupture immediately after a hard hit to the abdomen, a rib fracture, or other accident. What Are Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders? 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. When it detects bacteria, viruses, or other germs in your blood, it produces white blood cells, called lymphocytes, to fight off these infections. 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 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. The lymphatic system helps remove cellular waste, maintain fluid balance, and make and activate infection-fighting white blood cells for … The spleen plays multiple supporting roles in the body. Gayer, G. British Journal of Radiology, 2001; vol 74: pp 764-772. It does this by breaking down and removing cells that are abnormal, old, or damaged. 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 … The following spleen definitions will add to your understanding of the spleen location and function. Although the spleen is an important organ, it is not vital for human survival. It controls the level of blood cells. It contains white blood cells that fight germs. . . The spleen is an internal organ, about the size of a fist, found in the human abdomen. It is the size of a human fist. Depending on your age and overall health, your doctor will likely recommend that you get vaccinated against infections like these: Though your spleen isnât a large organ, it plays many important roles in your body. While it is an important organ , it can be removed when necessary without causing death. All rights reserved. Eventually, it can become painful. 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. If your spleen enlarges too much, it can rupture. The spleen is part of your body’s lymphatic system. An enlarged spleen may not cause symptoms at first. It's often discovered during a routine physical exam. The spleen is an oval-shaped organ that sits under the rib cage on the left-hand side of the body. Mayo Clinic: "Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly).". 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