Getting to Know the Function of the Spleen

Most of us have heard of the body part called the spleen. Not all of us however are familiar with what it really does. Even specialists only recently discovered that the spleen may actually play a vital role in the immune system.

The Spleen

The spleen is shaped like a fist or an oval and is located in the upper left area of the abdomen near the stomach, diaphragm and kidney. It is around 5 inches long and 3 inches wide and weighs less than half a pound. The spleen is composed of red pulp and white pulp which holds macrophages and lymphocytes. It is considered a part of the lymphatic system and is in fact the largest lymph structure in the body.

The Lymphatic System

Understanding the spleen requires some understanding of the lymphatic system. This system is composed of lymph vessels and lymph nodes. These vessels transport a kind of fluid called lymph which washes the different internal parts of the body. The lymph is then brought to the lymph nodes where bacteria and other harmful cells are destroyed. The spleen helps in this vital function of the lymphatic system and more.

Function of the Spleen

The white pulp holds the lymphocytes and macrophages that help fight infection. The macrophages in particular surround bacteria and harmful foreign particles and destroy and dispose of them. The red pulp gets its color from the blood that fills it. It is responsible for getting rid of dead or old cells of the blood. In this sense, it manages the body’s blood supply. In some animals, the spleen is an emergency storage area for blood. It does not have this function in humans but it does store platelets in a similar way also for emergency use.

Although the spleen was poorly understood in the past, it is now believed that the lack of it may make a person more prone to certain infections like septicemia. In rare instances, some people may be born without a spleen but it is more common for the spleen to have to be removed for medical reasons.

Splenomegaly

It is normal for the spleen to enlarge a bit due to digestive processes. In some people however the spleen may become enlarged due to other reasons. It is possible that blood flow could become blocked or the spleen could become infected with a virus or bacteria. Certain conditions may naturally lead to an enlargement of the spleen. Some of these conditions include:

• Malaria

• Leukemia

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Mononucleosis

• Systemic lupus

• Gaucher’s disease

• Cysts

• Sickle cell anemia

• Some kinds of anemia

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is the general term for the kind of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. Since the spleen is a part of this system, cancer cells can find their way to the spleen too. There are 35 subtypes of lymphoma with two main types—Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s.

Lymphoma may begin with lymphocytes multiplying uncontrollably in the lymph nodes. The cancer cells may eventually travel through the lymphatic system beginning with invading regional nodes until it reaches the spleen and other organs.