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Dec 17, 2023
The spleen is a soft, spongy organ located in the upper left side of the abdomen, just below the diaphragm and behind the stomach. It is approximately the size of a fist and is surrounded by a fibrous capsule.
The structure of the spleen can be divided into two main regions: the red pulp and the white pulp.
1. Red Pulp: This is the larger region of the spleen and is responsible for filtering and removing old or damaged red blood cells from circulation. It consists of a network of sinuses filled with blood and splenic cords. The sinuses are lined with specialized cells called macrophages, which engulf and break down the old red blood cells. The splenic cords contain a mixture of red and white blood cells, as well as other immune cells.
2. White Pulp: This region is involved in immune responses and contains lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. It appears as small, spherical clusters of lymphoid tissue scattered throughout the red pulp. The white pulp is divided into two types: periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths (PALS) and lymphoid follicles. PALS surround the central arteries of the spleen and contain T-lymphocytes, while lymphoid follicles contain B-lymphocytes and are similar to lymph nodes.
The spleen also has a rich blood supply. The splenic artery brings oxygenated blood to the spleen, which then branches into smaller arteries that supply the red and white pulp. The blood is drained from the spleen by the splenic vein, which carries it back to the liver for further processing.
Overall, the structure of the spleen allows it to perform various functions, including filtering blood, removing old red blood cells, and participating in immune responses.
The structure of the spleen can be divided into two main regions: the red pulp and the white pulp.
1. Red Pulp: This is the larger region of the spleen and is responsible for filtering and removing old or damaged red blood cells from circulation. It consists of a network of sinuses filled with blood and splenic cords. The sinuses are lined with specialized cells called macrophages, which engulf and break down the old red blood cells. The splenic cords contain a mixture of red and white blood cells, as well as other immune cells.
2. White Pulp: This region is involved in immune responses and contains lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. It appears as small, spherical clusters of lymphoid tissue scattered throughout the red pulp. The white pulp is divided into two types: periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths (PALS) and lymphoid follicles. PALS surround the central arteries of the spleen and contain T-lymphocytes, while lymphoid follicles contain B-lymphocytes and are similar to lymph nodes.
The spleen also has a rich blood supply. The splenic artery brings oxygenated blood to the spleen, which then branches into smaller arteries that supply the red and white pulp. The blood is drained from the spleen by the splenic vein, which carries it back to the liver for further processing.
Overall, the structure of the spleen allows it to perform various functions, including filtering blood, removing old red blood cells, and participating in immune responses.
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