SPLEEN

Spleen

The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals. Similar in structure to a large lymph node, it acts primarily as a blood filter—so it is possible to remove the spleen without jeopardizing life. The spleen plays important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood, which can be valuable in case of hemorrhagic shock, and also recycles iron. As a part of the mononuclear phagocyte system, it metabolizes hemoglobin removed from senescent erythrocytes. The globin portion of hemoglobin is degraded to its constitutive amino acids, and the heme portion is metabolized to bilirubin, ...

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spleen

Noun

  1. In vertebrates, including humans, a ductless vascular gland, located in the left upper abdomen near the stomach, which destroys old red blood cells, removes debris from the bloodstream, acts as a reservoir of blood, and produces lymphocytes.
  2. A bad mood; spitefulness.
  3. A sudden motion or action; a fit; a freak; a whim.
  4. Melancholy; hypochondriacal affections.
  5. A fit of immoderate laughter or merriment.

Verb

  1. To dislike.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: spleen
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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