01 / Location & anatomical relationships
High in the left abdomen, near the stomach.
02 / Structure & organization
Splenic red pulp filters blood and helps remove aging red cells. White pulp contains organized immune tissue associated with vessels. A connective-tissue capsule and internal framework support these regions.
03 / Function
It filters blood and helps your immune system respond to germs.
04 / Mechanism
Blood passes through tissue that removes worn-out blood cells and helps monitor for germs. Immune cells inside can respond to signs of infection. Other organs can take over many of its jobs if it is removed.
Working together: lymphatic & immune systems
Lymph vessels collect extra fluid from tissues. Lymph nodes filter that fluid, and immune cells help recognize and respond to germs.
Meet this body system →FOR DEEPER STUDY
Connect structure with function
The spleen filters blood, whereas lymph nodes filter lymph. This distinction explains why their immune functions are related but their circulation and internal arrangements differ.
Check your understanding
Locate the spleen in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.