The spleen is an organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen, tucked beneath the rib cage. This soft, spongy organ is an integral component of the body’s lymphatic and immune systems. The spleen performs several functions important for maintaining overall health.
The Spleen’s Role in Your Body
The spleen plays a multifaceted role in the body, primarily functioning as a filter for blood. It removes old, damaged, or abnormal red blood cells from circulation, ensuring that only healthy cells continue to transport oxygen throughout the body. This process helps maintain the quality of the blood.
In addition to filtering, the spleen serves as a storage site for various blood components. It holds a reserve of platelets, which are essential for blood clotting, and white blood cells, which are crucial for fighting infections. The spleen also contributes to the immune system by producing white blood cells and helping to create antibodies that defend against disease-causing organisms.
Understanding Spleen Size
A typical adult spleen measures up to about 12 centimeters (approximately 4.7 inches) in length, though this can vary slightly based on an individual’s height and sex. Spleen size can also fluctuate throughout life, growing during childhood and potentially shrinking slightly in older age.
A spleen measuring 14 centimeters is generally considered enlarged. This condition is medically termed splenomegaly. An enlarged spleen is not a diagnosis in itself but rather a symptom indicating an underlying health issue that requires further investigation.
Spleen size is typically assessed through imaging techniques, with ultrasound being a common and effective method. Ultrasound uses sound waves to create images, allowing healthcare providers to measure the spleen’s length, width, and thickness. This measurement helps determine the extent of enlargement and guides further diagnostic steps to identify the root cause.
Common Causes of Spleen Enlargement
Numerous conditions can lead to an enlarged spleen, often by increasing its workload or causing an accumulation of cells.
Infections are a frequent cause, including viral infections like mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus), bacterial infections such as syphilis or endocarditis, and parasitic infections like malaria. These infections can prompt the spleen to overproduce immune cells, causing it to swell.
Liver diseases, particularly chronic conditions like cirrhosis and hepatitis, can also result in an enlarged spleen. These conditions can increase pressure in the blood vessels connecting the liver and spleen, leading to blood pooling in the spleen and causing it to expand.
Blood disorders represent another category of causes, with conditions like hemolytic anemia, sickle cell disease, and thalassemia forcing the spleen to work harder to remove damaged red blood cells.
Certain cancers, specifically blood cancers such as leukemias and lymphomas, can lead to spleen enlargement. In these cases, cancerous cells can infiltrate and multiply within the spleen, contributing to its increased size. Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, may also trigger an enlarged spleen due to an overactive immune response or inflammation within the organ.
Recognizing Signs and When to Seek Medical Advice
An enlarged spleen sometimes causes no noticeable symptoms and may only be discovered during a routine physical examination. However, when symptoms do occur, they often include discomfort or pain in the upper left side of the abdomen, where the spleen is located. This pain might extend to the left shoulder.
Individuals might also experience a feeling of fullness after eating only a small amount of food, as an enlarged spleen can press on the stomach. Other indications can include unexplained fatigue, due to the spleen potentially removing too many healthy blood cells, or frequent infections. Easy bleeding or bruising may also occur if the enlarged spleen affects blood cell production.
It is important to consult a healthcare professional if any of these symptoms are present or if an enlarged spleen has been identified. A doctor will typically conduct a physical examination, which may involve gently feeling the abdomen, to assess spleen size. Further diagnostic steps often include blood tests, such as a complete blood count, to evaluate blood cell levels and liver function. Imaging tests like ultrasound, CT scans, or MRI may be used to confirm the spleen’s size and help determine the underlying cause.