Medical Centric

SPLEEN

Men's Health, Women's Health / By

WHAT IS SPLEEN? 

  • The largest part of the lymphatic system
  • The lymphatic system is a channel of lymph vessels and lymph nodes that moves scavenging fluids, fats, proteins that have escaped from cells and tissues back into the bloodstream with the removal of microorganism and cellular debris.
  • The shape and size of spleen vary among individual. It is commonly purple like, oval-shaped and mostly about 4 inches long in a healthy human.
  • The spleen can become damaged or ruptured after an accident, a hard hit to the abdomen or in a case of rib fracture. This can lead to its removal.
  • Even though the spleen serves as a blood filter and helps to fight infections, it is possible for a person to live a normal and healthy life without one. But extra precaution is to be taken in guarding the body against infections
  • An enlargement of the spleen can also cause rupture. A spleen may enlarge because of some certain diseases such as blood cancer, liver disease, tuberculosis infection, malaria, and

ANATOMY

  • Anatomically, the exterior surface of a spleen can be divided into the visceral surface and the diaphragmatic surface.
  • The visceral surface is the one that touches the viscera of the abdomen, it’s irregular and concave
  • The diaphragmatic surface is the one that touches the diaphragm and the ribcage and it’s smooth and convex
  • It is oval shaped and covered by a weak capsule that defends the organ in the process of expansion.
  • The spleen is situated in the upper left side of the abdominal cavity, under the ribcage and diaphragm.
  • The double fold of peritoneum that extends from the stomach connects the kidney and stomach to the spleen.
  • The spleen gets its arterial supply of blood from the splenic artery
  • The spleen is made up of 4 components: red pulp, white pulp, supporting tissue and the vascular system
  • The point of insertion of the splenic artery and the splenic vein is the These vessels are not the only opening for lymphatic vessels and nerves.
  • The spleen is located below the 9th,10th and 11th

PARTS

The spleen is made up of 2 TISSUES: the red pulp AND white pulp

THE RED PULP
  • It is made up of connective tissues and splenic sinuses filled with blood
  • This makes up 76-79% of the spleen
  • It is made up of several blood cells including platelet, plasma, and red blood cells
  • The main function is to filter the blood of microorganism, debris and worn-out red blood cells                                                                                                                                            
THE WHITE PULP
  • The white pulp makes us 25% of the splenic tissue
  • These cells are made up of just lymphocytes
  • It is the lymphocytes that transform into plasma cells that are capable of producing antibodies and immunoglobins

FUNCTIONS

  • The main function of the spleen is to filter the blood
  • It stores red blood cell, platelets, and white blood cells
  • The spleen provides immunity. When spleen detects germs, viruses, bacterias and other harmful materials in the blood, it produces the white blood cell known as lymphocytes to help fight them off.
  • The spleen produces certain substance that play an essential role in inflammation and healing.