Facts about the Spleen

1. 08

   Fetal hematopoiesis occurs in the spleen during the middle trimester of pregnancy, producing red blood cells before the bone marrow assumes this function.

   the SpleenJun 8sharebiologydevelopmentanatomy
2. 07

   Marginal zone B cells in the spleen represent approximately 10-15 percent of all splenic lymphocytes and provide rapid antibody responses to bloodborne pathogens within hours of exposure.

   the SpleenMay 14shareimmunologybiologymeasurement
3. 06

   Patients who undergo splenectomy experience a 50-fold increased risk of overwhelming post-splenectomy infection, a life-threatening condition that can develop within 24 hours of bacterial exposure.

   the SpleenMay 14sharemedicalinfectionsurgery
4. 05

   Splenic infarction occurs when blood clots block the spleen's artery, causing tissue death that can result in rupture and life-threatening internal bleeding if untreated.

   the SpleenMay 14sharemedicalanatomypathology
5. 04

   Weighing approximately 150 grams in adults, the spleen filters roughly 5 percent of the body's total blood volume every single minute.

   the SpleenMay 14shareanatomymeasurementphysiology
6. 03

   In autoimmune hemolytic anemia, the spleen destroys red blood cells at rates up to 20 times faster than normal, causing severe anemia within days or weeks.

   the SpleenMay 14sharebiologydiseaseimmune
7. 02

   Surgical removal of the spleen reduces the body's ability to fight pneumococcal infections by approximately 50 percent, making post-splenectomy vaccination critical.

   the SpleenMay 14sharebiologymedicalimmunology
8. 01

   About 200 milliliters of blood reserves are stored in the human spleen, released during hemorrhage or intense exercise.

   the SpleenMay 13sharebiologymeasurementphysiology