The Spleen, Functions, Diseases, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Spleen, Functions, Diseases, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

You're right, a spleen is a strange thing-we technically don't need one, but maybe spleens are kept in our bodies in case we mutate or evolve, and if we grow wings or tentacles we need to have the spleen in place in order for them to work."
-Douglas Coupland

The Spleen is an organ in the body which has been used by writers as an organ of anger and revenge.
The spleen is actually the largest unit of lymphoid tissue in the body.
It consists of a soft friable purple organ about the size of a fist located at the left hypochondrium below the diaphragm.
Its main function is the destruction of aged red blood cells in a process self induced death called apostasy.
It is shaped like a segment of the orange.
Its convex surface is the diaphragmatic surface while its concave surface lies on the fundus of the stomach.
The posterior end reaches the adrenal gland of the left kidney while the anterior end lies in contact with the splenic flexure of the colon.
The superior border is notched and can only be felt when enlarged.
Along the concave side, the blood vessels and nerve enter through a long hilum.
The two ligaments supporting the spleen are the nephrosplenic ligament and the gastrosplenic ligaments.
In spite of the ligaments the spleen moves freely with respiration.

The ninth to eleventh ribs on the left thorax covers and protect the spleen from injury.
The spleen varies in size in different people.
It increased in size during digestion and decreased in size with starvation.
The average size is 5in length, 3in breadth and 1in thickness
The normal weight is 7 pounds.
In certain diseases like malaria the spleen can increase to 20 pounds.

The internal framework of the spleen contains splenic pulp composed of lymphatic tissue permeated with sinusoids and flooded with blood (the red pulp).
The lymphatic tissue is made up of lymphatic nodules which appeared as white dots (the white pulp).
In the red pulp are macrophages from the blood which act to destroy aged red blood cells to liberate the heme and protein.
These are then carried by the portal vein to the liver and biliary system for degrading.
The splenic artery runs together with the nerve into the hilum and break up into 6 or more branches.
The splenic vein ends in the portal vein.
The lymph vessels are from the capsule and trabeculae and pass into the pancreatic and splenic lymph nodes.
Without a spleen the person can still live a normal life.
His resistance to infectious diseases is reduced.
There are also increases in circulating white blood cells and platelets.

The Functions of the Spleen are:

1. Blood Formation
   In fetal life from the 5th month the spleen forms all the blood cells for the body until at birth when the function passes on to the bone marrow.
2. Storage of blood.
   The storage of additional blood may be kept in the spleen up to 3% of the blood volume.
3. Blood destruction
   RBCs are destroyed in the spleen and their iron and protein reused in the liver.
4. Iron Storage
   Iron is extracted from RBCs and temporarily stored in the spleen
5. Bilirubin product
   Bilirubin product is the result of breakdown of the hemoglobin released from the red blood cells broken down in the spleen.
6. Fight against bacteria
   The lymphatic cells in the spleen act against toxins and other micro-organisms in the body.
7. Antibodies Formation and Immune Action
   The spleen is a source of antibodies
   Spleen enlargement causes concerns because of increased infections
   The spleen enlargement occurs in:
   a.Infectious mononucleosis,
   b.Malaria
   c.Liver cirrhosis,
   d.Lymphoma,
   e.Leukemia,
   f.Polycythemia vera

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