by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: April 06, 2007   Last Updated: May 02, 2007

OVERVIEW

The spleen is located just below the rib cage and upper stomach area on the left hand side of the body. This lymphatic organ is not a huge one, though it's function is important in protecting the body from infection and gains it's protection from a layer of peritoneum which holds the organs in this area in place. It's color is a deep purple red and a full grown spleen will be the size of a human fist.

HOW IT WORKS

Unlike other organs in the same area of the body, the spleen has nothing to do with digestion or the distribution of nutrients to the body. Instead, it's function is in channeling the blood, fighting bone disease by detecting excess red blood cells and converting them into new cells, and ensuring the distribution of white blood cells.

Over ten million fatigued red blood cells are regenerated into new red blood cells by a combination of the liver and the spleen every second of your life.

MENTAL ATTITUDE

The spleen has for many years been associated with temperament, wellbeing, emotions and passions, and it is assumed that at times that the spleen is either under active or over active, the resulting factor causes either misery, anger and fatigue when under active, and euphoria when over active.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU LOSE IT

While not life threatening, removing the spleen means that the body is not as well protected from disease, and extra caution would need to be taken to stave off diseases that relate to blood and bones, and other parts of the lymphatic system will kick in to do the work of the spleen although not as efficiently.

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