What is the composition of the spleen?
The spleen is the largest lymphatic organ in the body. Surrounded by a connective tissue capsule, which extends inward to divide the organ into lobules, the spleen consists of two types of tissue called white pulp and red pulp. The white pulp is lymphatic tissue consisting mainly of lymphocytes around arteries.
What are the functions of spleen?
What does the spleen do?
- Stores blood.
- Filters blood by removing cellular waste and getting rid of old or damaged blood cells.
- Makes white blood cells and antibodies that help you fight infection.
- Maintains the levels of fluid in your body.
- Produces antibodies that protect you against infection.
What are the pathologies of the spleen?
Major functions of the spleen include removing abnormal blood cells and making components of the immune system. Since the spleen is involved in so many bodily functions, it is vulnerable to a range of disorders. Disorders of the spleen include splenomegaly, hypersplenism and splenic rupture.
Does the spleen destroy white blood cells?
The spleen is part of your lymphatic system, which fights infection and keeps your body fluids in balance. It contains white blood cells that fight germs. Your spleen also helps control the amount of blood in your body, and destroys old and damaged cells.
What Bacteria Does the spleen fight?
The spleen fights certain types of bacteria The most common bacteria that cause infections in people without a functioning spleen function are pneumococcus, meningococcus and Haemophilus influenzae type B.
Does a splenectomy affect life expectancy?
Although the series of patients is small, it seems that splenectomy did not have an adverse effect on life expectancy. The haematological status and the quality of life improved after splenectomy in 17 of 19 patients.