Table of Contents
What is the shape of the spleen?
The spleen is an organ in the upper far left part of the abdomen, to the left of the stomach. The spleen varies in size and shape between people, but it’s commonly fist-shaped, purple, and about 4 inches long. Because the spleen is protected by the rib cage, you can’t easily feel it unless it’s abnormally enlarged.
Where is the spleen and what does it look like?
The spleen is a fist-sized organ in the upper left side of your abdomen, next to your stomach and behind your left ribs. It’s an important part of your immune system, but you can survive without it.
Why spleen is red?
A spleen is soft and generally looks reddish purple, according to StatPearls, a database of medical reference articles. It is made up of two different types of tissue. According to Britannica, the red pulp tissue filters the blood and gets rid of old or damaged red blood cells.
What is the structure and function of the spleen?
The spleen sits in the upper left of the abdomen, protected by the rib cage. It is the largest organ of the lymphatic system — the circulation of the immune system. It recycles old red blood cells and stores platelets (components of the blood that help stop bleeding) and white blood cells.
What is splenic circulation?
The term ‘splanchnic circulation’ describes the blood flow to the abdominal gastrointestinal organs including the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, small intestine, and large intestine. The hepatic portal circulation delivers the majority of the blood flow to the liver.
Is spleen and liver the same thing?
Here are a few liver and spleen facts. Did you know that your: Liver performs more than 300 functions and helps some of your other organs do their jobs? Spleen acts as a filter for your blood — removing old or damaged red blood cells?
Why is spleen dark purple?
The spleen is a center of activity of the mononuclear phagocyte system and is analogous to a large lymph node, as its absence causes a predisposition to certain infections. In humans the spleen is purple in color and is in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen….
| Spleen | |
|---|---|
| TA2 | 5159 |
| FMA | 7196 |
| Anatomical terminology |
What blood vessels supply the spleen?
The splenic artery or lienal artery is the blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the spleen. It branches from the celiac artery, and follows a course superior to the pancreas.
Can spleen problems cause weight gain?
Spleen Qi Deficiency. The Spleen is an important organ for weight control. If it’s not functioning well then it doesn’t matter how much or how little you eat. You will accumulate Dampness and fat, and feel bloated and heavy after every meal.
What is the spleen responsible for?
The spleen dominates the muscles and four limbs. Since the spleen is responsible for transforming food into qi and blood and transporting them throughout the body, proper functioning of the organ is essential to maintain muscle mass and strong limbs.
What do medical conditions affect the spleen?
Many health conditions can affect the spleen. These include: Diseases of the blood or lymph system. Infections. Cancer. Liver disease.
What side is your spleen on?
In most people, the spleen is located under the left side of the ribcage, next to the stomach. It normally cannot be felt or detected, as it is only about the size of the fist and is tucked away behind the stomach.
What does the spleen produce?
Spleen: An organ that is part of the lymphatic system. The spleen produces lymphocytes, filters the blood, stores blood cells, and destroys old blood cells.