List the functions of the spleen.

What will be an ideal response?


The spleen's main functions are to remove aged or defective blood cells and platelets from the blood and to store or release some of the breakdown products of RBCs to the blood for processing by the liver. Other functions include acting as a blood filter and reservoir, serving as a site for erythrocyte production in developing embryos, storing blood platelets, and providing a site for lymphocyte proliferation and immune surveillance and response.

Anatomy & Physiology

You might also like to view...

Heat exhaustion is accompanied by extensive sweating, whereas heat stroke is characterized by an absence of sweating

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Anatomy & Physiology

Which of the following does not affect the range of motion of a joint?

A. The presence of osteoarthritis B. The length of the articulating bones C. The strength of attached ligaments D. The strength of associated muscle tendons E. The articulating bone surfaces

Anatomy & Physiology

During the growth of a long bone, how is the epiphysis forced farther from the shaft?

Anatomy & Physiology

James has a hemoglobin measurement of 16 g/100 ml blood. This is ________.

A) above normal B) normal only if James is an infant C) abnormally low D) within the normal range

Anatomy & Physiology