By Medreth Thomas
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The spleen is an organ located underneath the rib cage in the upper left of the abdomen, and it is as big as your fist. The spleen plays an important but often not understood role as part of your body's defense system.
The spleen has 3 different parts: fibrous tissue called the splenic capsule, the splenic artery, and a splenic vein that drains into a larger portal vein. The splenic capsule contains two important kinds of tissue: the white pulp and the red pulp. The white pulp is responsible for fighting infection and is part of the immune system, and produces white blood cells called lymphocytes. These lymphocytes produce antibodies, which are specialized proteins that actually do the protecting against foreign substances that may enter our body.
By filtering the blood and removing impurities, the red pulp also plays a very important role. Red pulp can remove unwanted objects like fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Because the red pulp monitors red blood cells, it can remove those that become abnormal, or damaged. This hard-working organ also controls how much blood is in the body, by adjusting the volume of blood based on the demand for it.
Amazingly, even though the spleen is so important, it is possible to live without one. In a splenectomy, the spleen can be removed if it has been damaged beyond repair. The usual causes of this are an auto accident or other severe injury. Once the spleen has been removed from the body, the body loses its ability to produce the antibodies needed to fight infection or ward off intruders or to remove unwanted microorganisms from the blood; but despite this, the body can survive. The individual without a spleen is just more vulnerable to infections both bacterial and viral. Other organs in the body, such as the liver, often do a good job of compensating for the missing spleen. Proper nutrition is even more necessary after such an operation; make sure you are getting the proper vitamins, trace minerals, and essential fatty acids.
Medreth Thomas has been an online marketer since 1997. Medreth supplies Original and Unique, Health and Wellness articles on many different health topics at http://be-healthy-now.com
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ReplyDeleteMy husband has congenital spherocytosis and had a splenectomy about 40 yrs ago. he is allergic to antibiotics, and thankfully remains in good health. It is amazing how the body compensates, no doubt the liver has compensated.
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