The spleen is an important organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen, under the rib cage. It is a part of the lymphatic system, which plays a crucial role in the body's immune response. The spleen helps to filter the blood, remove old or damaged red blood cells, and produce certain types of white blood cells.
The spleen is a soft, spongy organ that is roughly the size of a fist. It is divided into two main types of tissue: white pulp and red pulp. The white pulp contains immune cells that help fight infections, while the red pulp is involved in filtering the blood and removing old or damaged blood cells.
The spleen serves several important functions in the body, including:
Several medical conditions can affect the spleen, including:
To better understand the spleen and its role in the body, consider the following study guide questions: