Spleen Flashcards
What is the spleen?
A fist-sized organ, associated posteriorly with the ribs 9 to 11, through separated from them by the diaphragm. It rests on the left colic flexure. Its located in the left lumbar region at the tip of the pancreas.
What does the spleen do?
It collects antigen from the blood, presenting it to lymphocytes. It serves to filter the blood, removing and disposing of ageing red blood cells and immune complexes.
What are the two distinct components of the spleen?
The red pulp and the white pulp.
What is the red pulp?
A well perfused tissue responsible for the filtration role in the spleen, removing ageing and damaged red blood cells from the circulation.
What is the white pulp?
It has many similarities to a lymph node. It is packed with T-cells, B-cells and dendritic cells and sifts antigen from the blood instead of the lymph.
What part of the white-pulp are T-cells located in?
Periarteriolar lymphoid sheath (PALS).
What part of the white pulp are B cells located in?
Beyond the sheath in a cornea around a germinal centre.
