What Does the Spleen Do?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
1. Filters Blood
Filtering blood is one of the most important functions of the spleen. Similar to other cells in the body, blood cells age and others are damaged. When this happens, the affected cells no longer function as well as they should. In this state, having them within circulation affects blood functions negatively, hence the need to remove them.
The spleen is equipped with the ability to filter blood and to remove the old and damaged cells. The blood supply for the spleen comes from the splenic artery. Filtration of blood occurs in the red pulp. Once removed, the old and damaged red blood cells are broken down and the resultant raw materials, specifically iron, is used to produce new cells.
