2. An organ that is part of the lymphatic system.
The spleen makes lymphocytes, filters the blood, stores bl
ood cells, and destroys old blood cells.
It is located on the left side of the abdomen near the stomac
h.
What is Spleen ?
3. Your lymphatic system, part of your immune system, has many
functions. They include -
• Protecting your body from illness-causing invaders
• Maintaining body fluid levels
• Absorbing digestive tract fats
• Removing cellular waste.
lymphatic system
4.
5. Anatomy
Largest reticulo endothelial organ in the body
Intra-abdominal wedge shaped organ.
Left hypochondrium & epigastrium.
Soft , highly vascular.
Variable size & weight
Average 12.5 X 7.5 X 2.5 in size
150 -230 gm in weight.
6.
7. There are two parts of the spleen.
White pulp: As part of the immune system, the white pulp produces
white blood cells. These blood cells make antibodies. Antibodies fight in
fection.
•Red pulp: The red pulp acts like a filter. It removes waste from the
blood and gets rid of old or damaged blood cells. Red pulp also destroys
bacteria and viruses.
8. Your spleen do -
• Stores blood.
• Filters blood by removing cellular waste and getting rid of old
or damaged blood cells.
• Makes white blood cells and antibodies that help you fight
infection.
• Maintains the levels of fluid in your body.
• Produces antibodies that protect you against infection.
9. • up to a cup (240 ml) of red blood cells is held within the
spleen and released in cases of hypovolemia and hypoxia.
• It can store platelets in case of an emergency and also
clears old platelets from the circulation.
• Up to a 1/4th of lymphocytes are stored in the spleen at
any one time.
10. Lymphocyte
There are two main types of lymphocytes: B cells and T cells.
The B cells produce antibodies that are used to attack invadin
g bacteria, viruses, and toxins.
The T cells destroy the body's own cells that have themselves
been taken over by viruses or become cancerous.
The bone marrow is extremely important to the immune system
because all the body's blood cells (including T and B lymphocyte)
originate in the bone marrow.
• B lymphocytes remain in the marrow to mature,
• while T lymphocytes travel to the thymus.
11. There are five types of white blood cells:
Neutrophils: Help protect your body from infections by killing bacteria, fu
ngi and foreign debris.
Lymphocytes: Consist of T cells, natural killer cells and B cells to protect a
gainst viral infections and produce proteins to help you fight infection (ant
ibodies).
Eosinophils: Identify and destroy parasites, cancer cells and assists
basophils with your allergic response.
Basophils: Produces an allergic response like coughing, sneezing or a
runny nose.
Monocytes: Defend against infection by cleaning up damaged cells.
13. Splenomegaly
Means enlargement of spleen.
Normal spleen not palpable.
◦ has to enlarge 2 time to be detectable.
Enlarges from left hypochondrium to ri
ght illiac fossa.
14. Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly):
• Several conditions can cause the spleen to swell and get too big.
• An enlarged spleen can cause pain and an uncomfortable feeling of
fullness, even if you haven’t eaten much.
• Splenomegaly is a dangerous condition because the spleen can ruptur
e (tear) or bleed. The spleen can become enlarged from:
• Blood cancers, such as leukemia
• cancer in other parts of the body that metastasize (spread) to the
spleen.
• Blood clots in the spleen or the liver.
• Certain types of anemia, including hemolytic anemia.
• Cystic fibrosis (CF).
• Infections, including mononucleosis (mono), syphilis, malaria and endo
carditis (infection of the heart’s lining).
• Liver problems, including cirrhosis.
• metabolic disorders
• Inflammatory diseases
• Protein disorders like amyloidosis.
15. Classification Of Splenomegaly
Alotaibi G et al. classification splenomegaly a
s:
Moderate : 11–20 cm
Severe : >20 cm
Another classification acc. to extent below coast
al margin:
Mild : <5 cm
Moderate : 5-8 cm
Severe : >8 cm
19. Functional asplenia:
This condition happens when your spleen doesn’t work as it should.
It may overreact (hypersplenism) and destroy healthy red blood cells
Destroying too many blood cells can increase the risk of infection
and lead to bruising and bleeding.
Functional asplenia can result from:
• An accident or trauma that damages the spleen.
• Sickle cell disease.
20. Damaged or ruptured spleen:
• Your spleen can rupture (tear) from injuries and trauma.
• Car accidents and blows to the abdomen (belly) are common
• causes of spleen damage.
• This life-threatening injury can cause severe internal bleeding.
Symptoms of a ruptured spleen include:
• A quick heartbeat.
• Nausea.
• Dizziness.
• Pain under the ribs on the left side.
21.
22.
23. Management
Depends on cause
Various investigations as per clinical features & e
pidemiology are employed
Basic investigations done are:
CBC
USG
CECT scan
24. Treatment
Can be medical or surgical
Medical management involves treatment o
f cause if possible
Surgical treatment is splenectomy
29. Overwhelming Post splenectomy Infection (OPSI)
loss of the ability to filter and phagocytose bacteria
loss of a significant source of antibody production
MC source of infection:Streptococcus pneumoniae
Others: H.influenzae type B, meningococcus, group A str
eptococci , Babesia microti
