What does the spleen do and can i live without it?
The spleen has important roles in regards to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve in case of hemorrhagic shock. It synthesizes antibodies in its white pulp and removes, from blood and lymph node circulation, antibody-coated bacteria along with antibody-coated blood cells. Recently, it has been found to contain, in its reserve, half of the body’s monocytes, within the red pulp, that, upon moving to injured tissue (such as the heart), turns into dendritic cells and macrophages while aiding “wound healing”, or the healing of lacerations. It is one of the centers of activity of the reticuloendothelial system and can be considered analogous to a large lymph node as its removal leads to a predisposition toward certain infections, but is not fatal.
