When we talk about important organs in the body, the heart, brain, lungs, liver and kidneys usually get most of the attention.
The spleen is rarely mentioned.
In fact, many people probably do not know exactly where it is or what it does. It sits in the upper left side of the abdomen, behind the stomach and close to the ribs. Although it is not an organ people talk about often, the spleen has several important functions.
One of its main functions is filtering the blood.
Red blood cells do not live forever. As they age, they become less efficient and eventually need to be removed from circulation. The spleen helps remove old and damaged red blood cells and also recycles some of the useful components they contain, particularly iron.
The spleen is also involved in the immune system.
It contains white blood cells and other immune cells that help the body fight certain infections. As blood passes through the spleen, these immune cells can identify and respond to bacteria and other foreign organisms.
This means the spleen plays a role in both maintaining healthy blood and protecting the body against infections.
Interestingly, it is possible to live without a spleen.
This does not mean that the spleen is unimportant. When the spleen is removed because of an injury or certain medical conditions, other parts of the body are able to take over some of its functions.
However, people who do not have a functioning spleen have a higher risk of developing certain infections. This is because they have lost an important part of the body’s immune defence system.
For this reason, people who have had their spleen removed may need certain vaccinations and should take signs of infection seriously.
The spleen can also become enlarged, a condition known as splenomegaly.
An enlarged spleen is usually a sign that something else is going on in the body. It can occur because of infections, liver disease, certain blood disorders and some cancers.
Because the spleen is rich in blood vessels, injuries to it can also be serious. A major injury to the abdomen, particularly around the left side of the body, can sometimes damage the spleen and lead to internal bleeding.
This is one of the reasons why abdominal injuries are taken seriously after accidents or during contact sports.
The spleen does not receive as much attention as other organs, perhaps because most people can live without it. However, that does not make it unimportant.
It quietly performs several important functions every day.
It filters the blood, removes old and damaged red blood cells, recycles useful components and supports the immune system.
Most people will probably never think about their spleen unless something goes wrong with it.
But that is often how the body works.
We do not always pay attention to what something does until it stops doing it.
And when it comes to the spleen, by the time it becomes a topic of conversation, there is usually a reason.
The spleen might not be the most talked about organ in the body, but it is definitely doing more work than most people realise.
Curious Fact of the Week
The spleen is the largest organ in the lymphatic system.
And despite all the attention we give to the heart, brain, liver and kidneys, this little organ tucked away under your left ribs has been quietly working with your blood and immune system the whole time.
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