The spleen is an organ located near the stomach.
The spleen is a copper color with a tendency to yellowish, according to the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ). The term in our language comes from the Latin word badius , which can be translated as "reddish" .
The most common use of the notion, however, is in the field of anatomy . The spleen is a viscera of vertebrate animals whose shape varies, but is usually located near the stomach , on its left side.
The spleen, with a reddish hue, contributes to the development of lymphocytes (lymphatic cells that participate in immune reactions) and the destruction of red blood cells that have already expired.
Features of the spleen
In humans , the spleen is oblong and flattened in shape. It usually measures eight and a half centimeters wide and about thirteen centimeters long, with a thickness of three and a half centimeters and a weight that exceeds 125 grams but does not reach 200.
This organ is located in the upper left sector of the abdominal cavity and maintains a link with the left kidney , the diaphragm and the pancreas . The spleen usually cannot be palpated in adults.
Its functions
Among the functions performed by the spleen in the human body are the maturation and elimination of red blood cells and cellular and humoral immunity.
When the organ presents some type of damage or pathology and must be removed either totally or partially, a splenectomy is used. This surgical intervention is usually carried out through the method known as laparoscopy .
The spleen can be affected by different conditions.
Spleen hypertrophy
Also known as splenomegaly , hypertrophy of the spleen appears as a consequence of another disorder, and is not considered a disease itself. The number of problems that can cause it is very high, which is why it is necessary to rule out certain conditions before finding the specific cause. It is important to note that when the spleen enlarges it needs a greater volume of blood and if it does not receive it it can be damaged or even stop working completely.
Since the causes of spleen hypertrophy are so many, it is necessary to divide them into several groups, as can be seen in the following list:
- Infections : hepatitis, brucellosis, visceral leishmaniasis, infectious mononucleosis, psittacosis, malaria, syphilis, subacute bacterial endocarditis and tuberculosis.
- Anemias : hereditary spherocytosis, hereditary elliptocytosis, thalassemias and sickle cell anemia .
- Myeloproliferative disorders and hematologic malignancies : leukemia, polycythemia vera, myelofibrosis, and Hodgkin lymphoma and other lymphomas.
- Thesaurismosis : in this group of possible causes of splenic hypertrophy there are several diseases, such as Gaucher, Letterer-Siwe, Hand-Schüller-Christian, Niemann-Pick and Wolman.
In addition to the causes just mentioned, there are others that cannot be easily classified. Among them we find cirrhosis, amyloidosis, thrombosis of the portal or splenic vein, cysts, Felty syndrome , sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus and pressure on the portal or splenic vein.
Regarding the symptoms of hypertrophy, they are difficult to identify since there are not many of them and they can resemble those of other disorders. For example, given the proximity between the spleen and the stomach, it may compress it and give the subject a feeling of satiety despite not having eaten any food. Back pain in the region near the spleen and discomfort in the upper left area of the abdomen are also common.
The treatment of hypertrophy of the spleen usually focuses on the underlying disorder, although there are also specific recommendations for patients, such as avoiding any activity that may cause blows or impacts against the area of the spleen, since under these conditions it is more prone to tears and bleeding that are impossible to control.