Splenic function

Question 1

What are the main functions of the spleen?

Answer 1

1) Haemotopoietic
- WCC and RBC production the spleen is important from 3rd to 5th fetal life. Bone marrow takes over. In disorders such as myelodysplastic syndrome, spleen takes over with production

2) Reservoir
- pools platelets (normally 1/3 are pooled here)
- splenomegaly, take up large number of platelets (80%) with thrombocytopaenia
- post splenectomy, thrombocytopaenia, leading to thrombosis

3) Filtration
- artery -> arterioles -> sieve like parenchyma (reticuloendothelial cells) -> cleansing of cells
- remove senescent cells, cellular inclusions (RBC nucleoi), parasites, sequestration of RBCs, platelets
- Imperfect RBCs (Howell-Jolly bodies (nuclear remnant), heinz bodies (denatured Hb), papperheimer bodies (iron granules), acanthocytes (spur cells), codocytes (targets cells)

4) Immunity
Antibody synthesis and phagocytosis
Evident with lack of response to streptococcus pneumonia, haemophilus influenza, neisseria meningiditis.