The spleen is located in the upper left part of the abdomen (left-upper quadrant, left rib cage, or left flank). The spleen helps in filtering the blood and removes old and damaged blood cells and platelets. The spleen also helps the immune system in the destruction of bacteria and removal of foreign substances. In adults, the spleen is 250 grams in weight and measures 13 cm in length. It has been observed that the spleen involutes with the increasing age and it is less easily palpable in the adults when compared to children. The spleen, a highly vascular organ, is susceptible to bleeding from the arteries, veins or parenchyma in an event of injury to it. An injury to this organ can result in significant blood loss either from the parenchyma or the arteries and veins that supply the spleen. The spleen also serves as an important lymphopoietic organ. Normal functioning of the spleen plays a major role in the opsonization of encapsulated organisms. Functions of the spleen include hematologic functions such as the red cell maturation, phagocytosis, removal of particulates such as opsonized bacteria, or antibody-coated cells from blood and immunologic function which contributes to the humoral and cell-mediated immunity.
Splenic rupture
Splenic infarction
Hemoperitoneum
Pneumoperitoneum
Blunt splenic trauma
Gastrointestinal perforation
Pancreatic trauma
Pancreatic fistula