The spleen is an organ that for many years was considered a vestigial, an incomprehensible and useless relic of the past. This error led to the fact that for some time the spleen was actively removed, as well as the appendix. But times are changing, it has now become clear that without a spleen the quality of life will certainly fall. But what is this mysterious organ? Where is it located and what functions does it perform?
General characteristics
Not many can boast of knowledge about where the spleen is in a person. It is located a little to the left and above the stomach - in the left hypochondrium. The weight of a healthy spleen in an adult is usually in the range of 150-200 grams. This organ takes an active part in blood circulation - about 200 ml of blood passes through it every minute. Naturally, this happens for a reason. The spleen has several functions, the importance of which is difficult to overestimate.
In normal condition, this body does not take up much space. One way to determine if your spleen is healthy is to measure it. The norm in adults is approximately 8-15 cm in length and 6-9 cm in width. Diseases of the spleen often cause a serious increase in its size. Of course, without this strange body you can live. But will life be as good as before? Not. Studies have shown that a person without a spleen is more prone to viral diseases than someone who has preserved this important organ. It grows in proportion to our body, so the size of the spleen in children depends on age and height. For example, in the period from 3 to 7 years, the average length of this organ is about 65 mm, and the width is about 50 mm.
What is the spleen responsible for
As it turned out, this supposedly useless organ actually performs many tasks that official medicine of the past did not even suspect. One of the functions of the spleen is the accumulation of blood in order to throw it away at the time of extreme physical exertion or with heavy bleeding. In especially severe cases, good red blood cells are thrown from this reservoir, the stock of which is always stored internally in case of emergency.
The spleen constantly filters the blood, removing toxins, harmful microbes and waste red blood cells. In its depths, they are disassembled into component components, some of which are involved in the formation of new red blood cells, and a certain amount of iron is deposited in special storages. Lymphocytes and antibodies are also formed in the spleen that resist pathogens throughout the body.
Structure
The bulk of the spleen is a red pulp, held by connective tissue cords. It is penetrated by a huge number of vessels in which blood cells are located, waiting for their fate. It is here that obsolete blood cells are filtered out and destroyed, and foreign bodies are caught. If the system needs an additional portion of blood, then the spleen helpfully provides it from its reservoirs. Have you ever felt a cutting pain in your left side while running or other physical exertion? This indicates that lobules of the spleen released a fair amount of blood into the bloodstream in order to make your life easier.
In addition to the red pulp, there is also white, performing a completely different function. Lymphocytes “ripen” in it and produce antibodies that protect the body from foreign agents. That is why people who have removed this beneficial organ often suffer from diseases.
Unique organ
The spleen is the only place in the human body where there is open blood flow. All other circulatory systems are closed. But in order to successfully cope with the storage of large volumes of blood, the spleen works like a sponge. Its vessels and capillaries pour out directly into the tissues of the organ, which absorb blood, expanding at the same time. This feature allows you to accumulate significant amounts of blood, if necessary.
For example, if a serious amount of toxins enters the human body, they will begin to accumulate in the spleen, waiting for the protective cells to sort them out. In some diseases, this beneficial organ expands so much that it has to be removed. But not always removing the spleen leads to a favorable result, sometimes it only gets worse.
Injuries and injuries
Of course, one of the most important criteria by which the spleen is evaluated is size. The norm in adults is such that the ribs cannot fully protect it. A small piece of a delicate organ remains completely uncovered, which makes it possible to damage it. With a serious injury to the spleen, a rupture may occur, resulting in intense internal bleeding. This can become life threatening, therefore, in such cases, the unfortunate organ must be removed. Sewing a torn pulp is almost impossible, as its delicate tissue is torn during any attempted intervention.
In general, the liver and spleen require caution, because part of these delicate and fragile organs, in fact, is not protected by anything. Because of this, there is always the possibility of injury to one of the most important filters in our body. A person can live without a spleen, and the liver has an amazing ability to regenerate, but do not forget that our body is a complex mechanism. If at least one of its parts is missing or damaged, then the entire system is broken.
Spleen diseases
Primary diseases of this organ occur quite rarely, it is secondary diseases associated with the defeat of other parts of the body or with viruses that cause the main problems. The spleen performs a protective function, constantly filters blood, delays and destroys dangerous elements. But sometimes the infection is so severe that there is no way to cope with it. In cases where the spleen's norm for removing infections is exceeded, she herself may become a victim of germs. Usually it is enough to cure the disease so that the filtering organ returns to normal, only in the most extreme cases surgical intervention may be required.
The spleen itself infrequently brings problems to its owner, but such cases are occasionally found in medical practice. For example, as it turned out, a heart attack is a problem inherent not only in the heart. Such a nuisance can happen to the spleen, since a significant amount of blood constantly passes through it. There are also known cases of necrosis of pulp tissue due to infectious diseases that have gone out of control. A lot of inconvenience can deliver a cyst in this area, especially if there is a tendency to increase it.
Splenectomy
The criterion by which the problematic spleen is most often detected is size. The norm in adults is up to 15 cm in length and not more than 9 cm in width. Of course, it would be foolish to remove this useful organ at the slightest ailment, but sometimes it is not necessary to choose.
Splenectomy, or the procedure for removing the spleen, is carried out in cases where its activity threatens the life of a person. For example, such an operation sometimes helps people suffering from low platelet counts in the blood. After splenectomy, blood coagulation begins to improve.
Delivering blood from dangerous elements is what the spleen is responsible for. Therefore, if one of the organs near it is affected by a tumor, then splenectomy may be required during its treatment or removal. After all, a fair amount of tumor cells will accumulate in the spleen, which can infect its tissues or go on a further journey through the body. Another reason for removing a long-suffering organ is injury. Recovering a damaged spleen is very difficult, so you often have to get rid of it.
How to take care
In order for such a tender organ to feel good, it is necessary to avoid injuries, protecting and protecting it from possible damage. Any fall or blow to the spleen can lead to severe internal bleeding. If a person with such an injury is not helped on time, then the consequences can be extremely serious, even fatal.
If you play sports, or experience other physical activities, it is very useful to coordinate them with the natural rhythms of the spleen. The peak of its activity falls on the interval from 10 to 12 hours, it is at this time that it is best to engage in motor activity. But between 22 and 24 hours - the spleen rest time, during this period it is not worth it to bother her again.
New Horizons
In the past century, the spleen was considered an unnecessary rudiment, even the most talented luminaries of science could not accurately determine its function. Today it is proved that this body has a huge impact on human life. The main criterion by which it is determined whether the spleen is healthy is size. The norm in adults can be significantly exceeded without harm to health. Today, an increase in this organ does not always lead to its removal, as doctors have realized that it is often just a manifestation of other diseases. Time will tell how full the current knowledge of the spleen is. One thing is clear - this amazing organ has prepared for us many more surprises.