Importance Of Spleen

1-Structure of Spleen:

Spleen lies in between the funds of the stom¬ach and the diaphragm. The spleen is soft, highly vascular and dark purple in color. The spleen is the largest single mass of lymphatic tissue in the body. Its average weight in the adult is about 150 gm. Its long axis lies in the line of the tenth rib.The spleen has a long fissure, the helium, near its lower portion. Except at the hilum, the surface of the spleen is covered by a layer of visceral peri¬toneum (serous coat). Next to the visceral peritoneum, there is a capsule.

The trabecu¬lae arise from the capsule that extend into the substance of the spleen.

White Pulp:

The lymphoid tissue (mostly lymphocytes) surround the arterioles, form¬ing masses or nodules, the splenic

It may be tender when you touch the area. This can be a sign of a damaged, ruptured or enlarged spleen.

A damaged or ruptured spleen :The spleen can become damaged or may rupture (burst) after a forceful blow to the abdomen, car accident, sporting accident or fracture to the ribs.

Rupture can happen straight away or it may happen weeks after the injury.

Signs of a ruptured spleen are:

• pain behind your left ribs and tenderness when you touch this area

• dizziness and a rapid heart rate (a sign of low blood pressure caused by blood loss) .Sometimes, if you lie down and raise your legs, the pain can be felt at the tip of your left shoulder.

A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency, as it can cause life-threatening bleeding.

Enlarged spleen

The enlargement of the spleen is called splenomegaly.

It happens during the following conditions:

* Increased phagocytosis by macrophages as in any infection

* Viral infections like glandular fever, Parasitic infections such as toxoplasmosis ,Bacterial infections such as endocarditis

*Increased destruction of erythrocytes as in malaria

*Abnormal increase in lymphocyte production as in leukemia—blood

Otherwise, look out for:

• feeling full very quickly after eating (an enlarged spleen can press on the stomach)

• feeling discomfort or pain behind your left ribs

• anemia and/or fatigue

• frequent infections

• easy bleeding

Doctors can often tell if you have an enlarged spleen by feeling your abdomen. A blood test, CT scan or MRI scan would confirm the diagnosis.

The spleen is not usually removed if it's just enlarged. Instead, you'll receive treatment for any underlying condition and your spleen will be monitored. Antibiotics may be prescribed if there's an infection.

You'll need to avoid contact sports for a while, as you'll be at greater risk of rupturing the spleen while it is enlarged.

Surgery is only necessary if the enlarged spleen is causing serious complications or if the cause can't be found.

Asplenia: The absence of a spleen or one that functions. (The spleen can be functionally destroyed, as occurs in patients with sickle cell disease) .

Splenectomy (having the spleen removed)

An operation to remove the spleen, known as a splenectomy, may be needed if the spleen is damaged, diseased or enlarged.

It may sometimes be more appropriate to have just part of your spleen removed – a partial