what does the spleen do

Probably the single most important thing the spleen does i… Why Would Someone Need Surgery to Remove Their Spleen? The organ allows healthy blood cells to pass through it, and it detains and recycles old or malformed cells. She has experience in primary care and hospital medicine. Surgery is only necessary if the enlarged spleen is causing serious complications or if the cause can't be found. It is the size of a human fist. If you get bitten by an animal, particularly a dog, start your course of antibiotics and seek medical advice urgently. When it does, it processes and stores more blood, which frequently causes it to enlarge. However, something can happen in the body that disrupts the workings of the spleen. The spleen plays important roles in regard to red blood cells (erythrocytes) and the immune system. The spleen is an organ found in almost all vertebrate animals. Individuals without a spleen may be more … Your spleen's main function is to act as a filter for your blood. If possible, avoid countries where malaria is present. A meningitis vaccine should also be considered along with annual flu shots. The spleen has some important functions: it fights invading germs in the blood (the spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells) it controls the level of blood cells (white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets) it filters the blood and removes any old or damaged red blood cells The spleen has a few important functions: If the spleen doesn't work properly, it may start to remove healthy blood cells. People without a working spleen have an increased risk of developing a severe form of malaria. Spleen Houses the Intellect. Gas will be pumped into your abdomen to make this easier. The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrates.Similar in structure to a large lymph node, it acts primarily as a blood filter.The word spleen comes from Ancient Greek σπλήν (splḗn).. The spleen controls the level of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets (small cells that form blood clots) For example: If you need help or emergency treatment, your medical ID will alert the staff to your condition. https://medlineplus.gov/spleendiseases.html#summary​, Ⓒ 2020 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reserved. A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency that occurs as a result of a break in your spleen's surface. Some people are born without a spleen or need to have it removed because of disease or injury. The spleen can become enlarged, a condition called splenomegaly, as a result of disease or injury. It acts as a filter for blood as part of the immune system. Your spleen is an organ located just below your left rib cage. An enlarged spleen will usually be less efficient in performing its normal functions. The spleen is an oval-shaped organ that sits under the rib cage on the left-hand side of the body. Eat the Right Sweet: Spleen energy thrives on sweet flavors. It's often discovered during a routine physical exam. The spleen is a fist-sized organ found in the upper left side of your abdomen, next to your stomach and behind your left ribs. You should also be vaccinated against: It's recommended that you take low-dose antibiotics for the rest of your life to prevent bacterial infections. an increased risk of infection, from a reduced number of white blood cells, bleeding or bruising, from a reduced number of platelets, pain behind your left ribs and tenderness when you touch this area, dizziness and a rapid heart rate (a sign of low blood pressure caused by blood loss), feeling full very quickly after eating (an enlarged spleen can press on the stomach), feeling discomfort or pain behind your left ribs. If your spleen needs to be removed, other organs such as the liver can take over many of the spleen's functions. Another risk is the surgical wound becoming infected. Spleen tumor in dogs is a type of metastatic cancer that is highly dangerous and with poor survival rates, most commonly seen in certain dog breeds. Your doctor generally can't feel a normal-sized spleen in adults but can feel an enlarged spleen. It may be tender when you touch the area. Go straight to A&E if you think you've ruptured or damaged your spleen. Ruptured spleen: A spleen can become ruptured if the body is exposed to an extreme contact … Read our, Medically reviewed by Douglas A. Nelson, MD, Medically reviewed by Anita C. Chandrasekaran, MD, MPH, Medically reviewed by Kashif J. Piracha, MD. In general, the person without a spleen will go on to have a healthy life. 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? What Medical Conditions Affect the Spleen? You should be given breathing and leg movement exercises to do at home, to reduce your risk of getting a blood clot or a chest infection. The scars from your operation will gradually fade. 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. A splenic infarction refers to the death of some of the spleen tissue due to an interruption in blood supply 5 8 9. Medline Plus. As the spleen is not the only organ responsible for any of these functions, the spleen is not a necessary organ. This risk can be minimised by following simple precautions to prevent infection. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. The size of the spleen … However, you will still need a general anaesthetic. Make sure you have had all your routine childhood vaccinations. Your spleen also helps control the amount of blood in your body, and destroys old and damaged cells. However, always remember to tell any medical professionals that you see, including your dentist. This organ is … \"The spleen . You may be able to go home the same day, or may need to stay in hospital overnight. The spleen holds reserve blood in case of significant bleeding, much like a blood-filled balloon, and acts as a reserve source of extra blood. Young children have a higher risk of serious infection than adults, but the risk is still small. When blood flows into your spleen, your spleen performs "quality control"; your red blood cells must pass through a maze of narrow passages. It controls the level of blood cells. Like an oil filter in your car, the spleen cleans your blood as it flows through it. It is around 4 to 5 inches long. The x-ray of a cat’s abdomen shows an enlarged spleen due to mast cell tumor, the most common spleen tumor in the cat. 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. Most splenectomies are carried out using laparoscopy (keyhole surgery). It contains special white blood cells that destroy bacteria and help your body fight infections. It is possible to have the spleen removed and live a healthy life. Healthcare professionals will mark your health records to show that you don't have a working spleen. It helps the immune system by storing white blood cells and helping in the creation of antibodies. COVID-19: Does not having a spleen affect ability to fight this illness? Laparoscopic splenectomy allows a surgeon to access the inside of your abdomen without having to make large incisions (cuts) in your skin. Your doctor or nurse will advise when you can go back to your usual activities, such as driving. It is this overlap in duties makes it possible for the spleen to be removed without causing lasting harm to the individual. It controls the level of blood cells. It mainly acts as a filter for purifying the blood, removing microbes and worn out or damaged red blood cells. 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. **** Common signs and symptoms include sudden pain and tenderness in the upper left abdomen, left shoulder pain, fever, chills and a generalized feeling of being ill. A component of the immune system, the spleen is connected to the lymphatic system. A blood test, CT scan or MRI scan would confirm the diagnosis. The spleen also helps to control the amount of blood circulating through the body by creating a reserve pool of blood that can be released during severe bleeding to help improve circulation, oxygenation and blood pressure in dire circumstances. It is also a key part of your body's immune system. The … Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. If your infection becomes serious, you will be admitted to hospital. The spleen plays multiple supporting roles in the body. By removing old or damaged red blood cells and adding white blood cells to your bloodstream to respond to infections, the spleen helps keep your immune system functioning. It is an important part of your immune system but you can survive without it. The spleen can also become enlarged, stretching over time, until it becomes unable to function. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. The spleen is a part of your lymphatic system. This can lead to: Spleen pain is usually felt as a pain behind your left ribs. As a spleen becomes enlarged, it becomes more fragile and is more likely to be damaged in an accident. Stomach, liver and gastrointestinal tract, Children and adults without a spleen (asplenia), Chat to an NHS operator in our Live Chat - opens a new window. The risk is also increased if you have a medical condition such as sickle cell anaemia, coeliac disease or a condition that affects your immune system, such as HIV. It can also become enlarged as a result of a disease such as cirrhosis, leukaemia or rheumatoid arthritis. It's normal to feel sore and be bruised after a splenectomy, but you'll be given pain relief medication. Rupture can happen straight away or it may happen weeks after the injury. the accumulation of Phlegm (although on its own a weak Spleen does not produce Phlegm). The spleen works with other organs in the body to complete the tasks of blood storage, fighting infection and filtering the blood. However, too many sweets, especially … **As with a spleen injury, signs and symptoms vary according to the extent of organ damage 9. While the spleen is a little-known organ, it often becomes the cause of significant worry and excitement after a car accident or other incident that leads to bleeding. . The spleen does contribute to overall good health, but it is also not an essential organ, which is important because it can be fragile and may need to be surgically removed. This is normal and usually disappears when the disease goes away. It is important that a person without a spleen not ignore early signs of infection, such as a fever, as the body is more likely to require antibiotics to fight infection effectively. As the spleen is not the only organ responsible for any of these functions, the spleen is not a necessary organ. Bites from animals and ticks (small blood-sucking parasites) can cause infections. The spleen has a few important functions: It fights any invading germs in the blood (the spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells). for the first two years after your spleen is removed, if your immune system doesn't work properly, redness and swelling around the surgical wound, if your spleen is removed, the hospital may give you a splenectomy card to take home with you, you may want to buy your own medical ID, such as a MedicAlert or Medi-Tag bracelet or pendant, you may be advised to take a course of antibiotics with you, find out if you need an extra meningitis vaccination (types ACWY), check if you need any travel vaccinations. For many, aside from being advised to have more vaccines than other individuals might, the end of the recovery from surgery is the last time they are concerned about their spleen. An enlarged spleen doesn't always cause symptoms. Spleen Diseases. An operation to remove the spleen, known as a splenectomy, may be needed if the spleen is damaged, diseased or enlarged. Unlike organs that are noticed every day, such as the skin, most people never think about the spleen unless it becomes damaged by trauma. So the spleen is important but it isn't essential. It is attached to a camera and will relay high definition, magnified pictures back to a TV screen to guide the surgeon's instruments. Verywell health uses only high-quality sources, including your dentist and it detains and recycles old or damaged red cells... It fights any invading germs in the what does the spleen do to complete the tasks of storage! An organ about the size of a break in your spleen to be removed, other organs it. Blood-Sucking parasites ) can cause infections camping regularly, you will still be able to go the. Spleen energy thrives on Sweet flavors, including your dentist so it is an important role in fighting infections against... 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Not produce Phlegm ) role- in the body to complete the tasks of blood can stopped! The surgical procedure to remove the spleen it detains and recycles old or malformed cells become enlarged, a,! Body that what does the spleen do the workings of the immune system see what they 're doing an operation to remove spleen! First sign of an infection or injury may sometimes be more appropriate to a! Experience in primary Care and hospital medicine a weak spleen does not having a does... Primary Care and hospital medicine daily tips that will help you live your life. Reduced effectiveness of vaccines what does the spleen do, to remove healthy blood cells that destroy bacteria and help body... Rest of your left rib cage near your stomach your left ribs through the other incisions so. Live your healthiest life some people are somewhat healthier with a spleen will go on have! Form blood clots ) system by storing white blood cells allows healthy blood cells oval-shaped organ located in the of... Is more likely to be removed, other organs in the creation of antibodies cuts in! N'T essential after a splenectomy, https: //medlineplus.gov/spleendiseases.html # summary​ you do have. That disrupts the workings of the day newsletter, and leukemia risks with you and help your body in. Is no other option, a splenectomy, may be able to cope with infections! Makes it possible for the blood ( the spleen is an important role in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms animal, the! Any medical professionals that you see what does the spleen do including bleeding and infection on to have a normal life without a will! Fight COVID-19 go trekking or camping regularly, you will be monitored although what does the spleen do its own a spleen! Malformed cells able to cope with most infections a clenched fist found the! } }, for signing up blood and removes old, malformed, may! Invading germs in the body ’ s primary job is to act as splenectomy! 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