Where is the spleen located in the human body?

Where is the spleen located in the human body?

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. The spleen also helps fight certain kinds of bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis.

Where are the three areas of impression found in the spleen?

Medial surface of the spleen shows three areas of impression. The colic area is the impression of the left colic flexure, the gastric area is the impression of the stomach, and the renal area is the impression of the left kidney. The splenic hilum is found in the central part of this surface.

How does the red pulp of the spleen work?

In turn, the red pulp—composed of wide blood vessels called splenic sinusoids—works to filter blood and store elements that help repair injuries. These tissues are separated by a marginal zone, a membrane border that also serves a filtering function.

Is it possible to have an enlarged spleen?

When enlarged and extending below the costal margin, the spleen can be palpated on the anterolateral aspect of the abdomen and the superficially lying notched border makes it clearly discernible.   However, as mentioned below under the causes of spleen pain, mild to moderate splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) rarely causes spleen pain.

Your spleen is an organ located just below your left rib cage. Many conditions — including infections, liver disease and some cancers — can cause an enlarged spleen, also known as splenomegaly (spleh-no-MEG-uh-lee). An enlarged spleen usually doesn’t cause symptoms.

Do you need a spleen to live a healthy life?

Due to injury or necessary surgery (splenectomy), some people are lacking a spleen, the organ that filters the bloodstream and helps the body fight infection. You do not need your spleen to live a normal, healthy life.

Can a ruptured spleen cause life threatening bleeding?

Even healthy spleens are soft and easily damaged, especially in car crashes. The possibility of rupture is much greater when your spleen is enlarged. A ruptured spleen can cause life-threatening bleeding in your belly. Bona R. Evaluation of splenomegaly and other splenic disorders. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.

When does the spleen make new blood cells?

Usually new red blood cells are created by the bone marrow, but when blood counts are low or the bone marrow is not working well, the spleen can also make new red blood cells.