by Alison Moss

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

The spleen is found between your stomach and your diaphragm on the left side of your body. It works as a filter for your blood. The blood passes through the spleen where white blood cells (these are the infection-fighting cells) remove any bacteria, viruses and infections. This is the main role of the spleen to fight infection. However it also has a secondary role as it breaks down old red blood cells ready for new ones to be made.

In an unborn child the spleen produces both red and white blood cells. However after birth the spleen is no longer able to produce red blood cells and instead this task is carried out by bone marrow. However the spleen remains able to manufacture white blood cells.

People can live without a spleen, often the spleen may have to be removed due to an accident when it can rupture. The removal of a spleen is called a spleenectomy However because of the spleens importance in fighting infection people who no longer have a spleen are more susceptible to infections.

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