For the storage of blood (especially in case of hemorrhage) and the trapping of pathogenic microorganisms.
What is the Spleen and what does it do? The spleen is the soft, purplish-red organ tucked just under the rib cage on the left side of the abdomen. It is about the size of the heart and is made up of a spongy material that can hold up to three gallons of blood. Filtering blood. Your spleen acts as a filter for your blood, cleansing it of bacteria, viruses and other debris. When blood flows through your spleen, white blood cells attack and remove any foreign invaders. This keeps your blood clean and helps protect you against infection. The spleen is an important organ in the body that has a variety of responsibilities. 1  It is a major filter of blood, helping remove old and damaged red blood cells, and bacteria. Where is the spleen, and what does it look like? The spleen is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, just beneath the diaphragm and next to the stomach. It has a very rich blood supply since it is responsible for filtering blood, and it is protected by the 9th, 10th, and 11th ribs. 1 The spleen is also considered to be a hematopoietic organ which is capable of producing certain blood cells. 2  During the gestation period, the spleen produces red blood cells to the developing fetus up until the fifth month. 3  Soon as the fetus is born, the spleen does not anymore produce red The spleen is another important organ of the body which is primarily responsible for the storage of blood (especially in case of hemorrhage) and the trapping of pathogenic microorganisms. by Katrina Cain. Tweet. The spleen sits just under your ribs in the upper, left portion of your abdomen and is responsible for filtering out old red blood cells, storing monocytes and collecting antibody covered bacteria and blood cells for removal from the body.
http://www.kidsgrowth.com/resources/articledetail.cfm?id=1265 http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/factfiles/spleen/spleen.shtml http://www.medicinenet.com/enlarged_spleen/article.htm http://www.medicinenet.com/enlarged_spleen/page2.htm http://byebyedoctor.com/spleen-function-location-pain-problems/ http://byebyedoctor.com/spleen-function-location-pain-problems/ http://www.wereyouwondering.com/what-does-the-spleen-do/
what is your spleen responsible for