Tuesday, October 17, 2023

What is the Spleen and Why is it Important?

 Picture of fall trees along a river 

 Photo taken by Dr. Haus

The Spleen

The spleen is an organ that sits in the abdomen (belly) next to the stomach.  The spleen is part of the lymphatic system.  The lymphatic system is part of the immune system which helps protect the body from disease.  

There is a large number of monocytes/macrophages and platelets in the spleen.

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Why is the spleen important?

Some of the spleen's important functions are...
  1. Recycling damaged, dead, or old red blood cells

  2. Storing blood

  3. Filtering blood (removes waste material/infectious organisms from the blood)

  4.  Producing immune system cells to protect the body from disease


Dr. Haus's Unsolicited Life Advice:  When there is blood in the abdomen, check the spleen

 

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