Published Jul 20, 2007
misserlizzer
11 Posts
Maybe someone can help. Why is the spleen in the circulatory system? I'm having a mental block and can't remember what it does...
prmenrs, RN
4,565 Posts
ptadvocate81
120 Posts
Found this for you- hope it helps in some way...
The spleen is an organ involved in the production and maintenance of red blood cells, the production of certain circulating white blood cells, and is a part of the lymph system and the immune system.
The spleen does several important jobs.
It serves as a reservoir for certain blood components, especially white blood cells that help fight infection and platelets that are necessary for clotting. The spleen also filters small particles from the blood, like bits and pieces of worn out red blood cells. After scavenging these particles from the blood the spleen recycles the components. The spleen also captures bacterial invaders in the blood and then the immune system within the spleen begins its attack upon them. In childhood the spleen also plays a role in forming new blood cells, but this is not so in adults. The important jobs done by the spleen can be taken over, in part, by other organs. Therefore, the spleen is not essential.
Daytonite, BSN, RN
1 Article; 14,604 Posts
The spleen is more a part of the Lymphatic and Immune system, but some anatomists include it with the cirulatory system along with the lymph circulation. It is most important during fetal development because it is responsible for the formation of the red and white blood cells at that time. After birth, however, it produces antibodies, filters out damaged red blood cells and forms bilirubin from their hemoglobin. It also produces some lymphocytes and monocytes. The reason we can live without a spleen is because other organs also perform many of the same functions, although the spleen seems to be the most efficient at clearing out old red blood cells and controlling the rate of leukocyte stem cells that are produced.