What is spleen? Location, function and ruptured spleen.

Welcome to our today’s talk on health , We Will be having a thorough talk down on spleen, so below are some few topic guides we will be covering today:

What is spleen?
Where is Spleen location
Spleen function
Spleen Conditions
Spleen enlargement
Spleen rupture.

Just like every other persons the first question has always been What does spleen mean? And that takes us to our first topic here.

Table of Contents

What is Spleen or what is a spleen?

Spleen meaning

The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrates. They have a Similar structure to a large lymph node, as though it acts primarily as a blood filter. The word spleen comes from Ancient Greek word called

where is your spleen?

The spleen location is 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.

The spleen plays multiple supporting roles in the body. It acts as a filter for blood as part of the immune system. Old red blood cells are recycled in the spleen, and platelets and white blood cells are stored there. The spleen also helps fight certain kinds of bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis.

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function of spleen

Spleen acts as a blood filter as it controls the amount of red blood cells and blood storage in the body, and it also aids the fight against infection, according to an advanced registered nurse practitioner Jordan Knowlton. If the spleen detects potentially dangerous bacteria, viruses, or other micro-organisms in the blood, it creates a white blood cells called lymphocytes which produces antibodies to kill the foreign micro-organisms and stop infections from spreading and act as defenders against invaders, the spleen is able to achieve this with the help of the organ called the lymph nodes.

Enlarged spleen

An enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) is although a very much serious condition but no doubt it is typically a treatable condition. “Knowlton said anyone who faces An enlarged spleen faces and higher risk for spleen rupture,” Enlarged spleen can happen to anyone, but children suffering from mononucleosis are more at risk, and also adults with certain inherited metabolic disorders including Gaucher’s and Neimann-Pick disease, and people who live or travel to malaria-endemic areas also faces same risk too.

Spleen Enlargement Causes?

Although there is no guaranteed cause for spleen as everyone is at risk of having spleen enlargement but below are the listed infections that could spur up Spleen enlargement according to knowlton:

liver diseases
Cancer
blood diseases

But According to the Mayo Clinic, specific infections and diseases include:

viral infections, such as mononucleosis
bacterial infections
parasitic infections, such as malaria
metabolic disorders
hemolytic anemia
liver diseases, such as cirrhosis
blood cancers and lymphomas, such as Hodgkin’s disease
pressure on or blood clots in the veins of the liver or spleen

spleen enlargement treatment

Up till date there have never been a guaranteed treatment for spleen enlargement but its best advised to ask your doctor the possible next step to take after you have been confirmed to have an enlarged spleen.

Is an enlarged spleen serious?

A ruptured spleen can cause lots of blood loss and be life threatening. It’s important to seek treatment for the cause of your enlarged spleen. Left untreated, an enlarged spleen can lead to serious complications. In most cases, treatment of the underlying cause of the enlarged spleen can prevent removal of the spleen.

Ruptured Spleen

The spleen is very much vulnerable to injury, and a ruptured spleen can cause serious life-threatening internal bleeding and is a life-threatening emergency. An injured spleen may rupture immediately after an injury, or in some cases, days or weeks after an injury.

spleen rupture causes

An Impalement from a knife wound
when blood cells accumulate in the spleen.
Accidents such as, Motor, bicycle and or motor cycle.
Underlying problems such as infections, liver disease, and blood cancers.
Enlarged spleen also leads to ruptured spleen

spleen rupture symptoms

Ruptured spleen symptoms include:

Pain in the upper left abdomen
Left shoulder pain
Confusion, Fainting, light-headedness or dizziness
Blurred vision
Signs of shock, including restlessness, anxiety, nausea, and paleness

What does pain from the spleen feel like?

Symptoms you may experience with an enlarged spleen include: pressure or pain in the left upper part of your abdomen (near the stomach), feeling full without eating a large meal, or pain your left shoulder blade or shoulder area when taking a deep breath.