Spleen belongs to which system

If the throat is infected, for example, the lymph nodes of the neck may swell. Certain diseases can affect the lymph nodes, the spleen, or the collections of lymphoid tissue in certain areas of the body. Note: All information on KidsHealth is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. All rights reserved. Find a Doctor.

About Us. Community Programs. California Kids Care. International Services. Video Visits: Telemedicine. Locations Main Campus. Satellite Locations. Emergency Care. Urgent Care. Safe Sleep Practices. Pay Your Bill. Financial Assistance. Medical Records. About Us Who We Are. Patient Stories. Antibodies and white blood cells also stop infections from spreading through the body by trapping germs and destroying them.

As you've seen, your spleen is a very useful organ, but it is not vital. Sometimes, a person's spleen does have to be surgically removed. This may be because the spleen becomes injured, or it may be taken out in the course of transplanting other organs.

Other parts of your body, like your lymph nodes and your liver , are able to step in and take over many of your spleen's functions. Because the spleen is so important to your immune system, people without spleens are more vulnerable to infections.

This is why your doctor may tell you to take extra precautions, such as getting vaccinations, once your spleen has been removed. You will also be prescribed oral antibiotics to take daily; this is another way to prevent infection. Still, it's not uncommon to be without a spleen, and many people are able to enjoy full lives without one. Learn more about the liver and its functions. Jan Blice Phone: Email: joanne. Renee Brown-Bakewell Phone: Email: renee.

Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:. Pittsburgh, PA In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region. For general information and inquiries , please call Yes, you can live without your spleen. The surgery to remove your spleen is called a splenectomy.

Yet without your spleen, you will be more likely to get certain infections. And if you do get sick, it can take longer than usual for you to recover. Depending on your age and overall health, your doctor will likely recommend that you get vaccinated against infections like these :. It helps remove old and damaged blood cells, and it produces infection-fighting cells to protect your health.

The spleen also makes certain substances that have an important role in inflammation and healing. Infections and injuries can damage your spleen and cause it to enlarge or even rupture.

If the damage is extensive, you might need surgery to remove your spleen. You can live a normal, healthy life without a spleen. Your spleen is a small organ located on the left side of your abdomen under your rib cage. This organ is part of your immune system. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. Get the statistics on survival rates and find out the most common symptoms, diagnostic options, and…. The jejunum is one of three sections that make up the small intestine. Learn about its function and anatomy, as well as the conditions that can affect….

At-home microbiome testing kits can be a first step. As a fetus is developing, the spleen makes red blood cells, but after the fifth month of gestation, it stops. The spleen also produces compounds called opsonins, such as properdin and tuftsin, that help the immune system. Accessory spleen: An estimated 10—15 percent of people have an additional spleen. The second spleen is usually much smaller — around 1 centimeter cm in diameter. Generally, it causes no health problems.

Ruptured spleen: This can occur following an injury and cause life-threatening internal bleeding. Sometimes, the spleen will burst at the time of the injury; other times, it will burst days or weeks later. Certain diseases, such as malaria and infectious mononucleosis , make a ruptured spleen more likely because they cause the spleen to swell and the protective capsule to become thinner. Enlarged spleen splenomegaly : This can occur due to a variety of conditions, such as infectious mononucleosis mono , blood cancers such as leukemia , bacterial infections, and liver disease.

Sometimes, the spleen is carrying out its regular work, but it is overactive hypersplenism ; it may, for instance, be destroying too many red blood cells or platelets.

Sickle cell disease: This is an inherited form of anemia; the condition is characterized by a dysfunctional type of hemoglobin. In this form of anemia , red blood cells are abnormally shaped crescent-shaped and block the flow of blood, causing damage to organs, including the spleen. Without platelets available to help blood clot, the primary symptom of thrombocytopenia is bleeding. Spleen cancer: If cancer starts in the spleen, it is known as primary spleen cancer; if it spreads to the spleen from another site, it is called secondary.

Both types of cancer are rare. Splenic infarction: If the blood supply to the spleen is reduced, it is known as splenic infarction. This occurs if blood supply through the splenic artery is cut off by, for instance, a blood clot. This is often very painful, and treatment depends on the underlying cause. Some people need to have their spleen surgically removed splenectomy.