The importance of the spleen in the human body

The spleen is a thin, purple, spongy organ located behind and to the left of the human stomach. The spleen is approximately the size of a fist, and scientists do not understand all of its functions. However, the spleen plays an important role in the circulatory and immune systems.

The spleen helps purify the blood from harmful substances. Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow, and circulate in the body for some time before they die. The blood that passes through the spleen enters through spongy-shaped spaces called sinusoids. In these spaces there are large cells called macrophages that surround the blood and destroy old or damaged blood cells.

The spleen also helps the body fight infections. Macrophages in the spleen help rid the blood of some parasites and bacteria. In addition, the spleen contains clots of white blood cells called lymphocytes, which release special proteins into the blood. These proteins are called antibodies. They weaken or kill bacteria, viruses, and any other substances that cause infections.

Sometimes surgeons decide to remove a patient’s spleen in a procedure called a splenectomy. It may be removed if it becomes damaged or overactive, or if the patient has cancer of the lymphatic system. The spleen can be ruptured by a strong blow to the abdomen. Unless treated immediately, the affected spleen may cause serious blood loss, resulting in death. Surgeons can treat an infected spleen, but removing the spleen may be necessary to stop the bleeding. Removal of the spleen does not cause any ill effects in most patients. But in some patients, especially children, splenectomy increases susceptibility to infection. For this reason, a patient who has had a splenectomy may need a special vaccination that reduces the chances of infection.

Conclusion:

The spleen is a spongy organ that filters foreign materials and damaged cells from the blood. It also stores red blood cells that can be diverted into the bloodstream when necessary.

It destroys and reduces end-of-life blood cells. As we know, blood cells have a specific lifespan after which they die, and the spleen is the one that analyzes them because they are the body of them. The reason for not killing them is firstly because they are useless after their death and secondly so that we do not have an immune disease that destroys the blood cells. The spleen has Some other functions, as it is one of the most beneficial immune organs in the body and secretes many antibodies against microbes.

One of the causes of weak immunity in a person is the removal of the spleen due to cancer, which weakens immunity and causes the immune system to lose one of its members.