During the time that a fetus is 9 to 28 weeks old, blood cells form in the spleen. After birth, the spleen keeps a supply of blood, which it releases into circulation if the blood pressure gets low. It removes old red blood cells and stores iron...
Beneath the ribcage on the left side of the body sits the spleen, a fist-sized organ responsible for generating immune cells and removing toxic substances from the blood. Physical trauma or certain infections can cause damage to this organ,...
The spleen helps protect the body against infection through the production of red blood cells and removal of damaged blood components or pathogens from the blood. A traumatic injury or certain types of infection, such as mononucleosis, can damage...
The spleen is a small organ that lies immediately beneath the ribcage on the left side of the abdomen. As part of the immune system, the spleen helps produce immune cells while also removing toxic substances from the bloodstream. People who...
Sickle cell anemia is a recessive genetic disease that cannot be prevented or cured. This disease results in the body producing abnormal hemoglobin, the iron-rich and oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells or erythrocytes. Due to the defective...
There are many causes of acute abdominal pain. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians or AAFP, acute abdominal pain may signal a serious underlying health condition and should not be ignored. Acute abdominal pain may be caused by a...
A sore throat accompanied by severe fatigue can be caused by an Epstein-Barr virus infection, an illness referred to as mononucleosis. Mononucleosis is often called "the kissing disease" because the virus is most often transmitted through contact...
Abdominal pain is a common complain in children. According to American Family Physician, most children with abdominal pain have self-limited benign conditions. The location of abdominal pain can offer clues as to its cause. Organs located in the...
The kidneys start to grow during the first month of fetal development. These organs produce urine and maintain normal levels of electrolytes and fluids in the body. Kidney problems that occur during fetal development could lead to complications...
Abdominal pain is any pain felt from chest to groin. It is often referred to as belly or stomach pain and can have many causes. The bladder, liver, spleen, appendix and adrenal glands are all located in the abdomen. Abdominal pain, therefore, can...
The spleen sits directly above the stomach and under the ribs on the left side. It is approximately the size of a fist and is part of the lymphatic system, according to Medline Plus. The lymphatic system fights infection and keeps body fluids in...
Thalassemia refers to a type of blood disorder associated with decreased red blood cells and hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying pigment in blood. Symptoms of thalassemia include shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue, irritability and a swollen...
According to the Mayo Clinic, a ruptured spleen is an emergency medical condition that occurs when the spleen experiences a trauma. The spleen is an important center for immune system activities. According to MDGuidelines.com, splenic rupture...
The spleen is a small organ located on the left side of your body immediately beneath your kidney. This organ plays a critical role in waste removal from the body and the immune system response. If you sustain an injury to your spleen, you can...
Located just under your ribs in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen, your spleen is a disc-shaped organ approximately 4 inches in circumference and 2 inches thick. As part of its role in fighting infection, the spleen stores white blood cells...
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a parasite known as plasmodium. It is spread through the bites of infected anopheles mosquito. The World Health Organization states that, in 2008, there were 247 million cases of malaria worldwide and...
Polycystic Kidney Disease, or PKD, is a genetic disorder that comes in various forms depending on the genes affected. Most cases affect adults with symptoms beginning in the third or fourth decade of life. The underlying problem is the development...
An enlarged spleen and diminished spleen function are two common symptoms of several disorders, such as myeloproliferative disorders and amyloidosis, respectively. Nutrition to help prevent and reduce symptoms of these conditions may also provide...
Left-sided abdominal pain can be caused by numerous conditions. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, abdominal pain can emerge from any of the abdominal structures or the abdominal wall. Abdominal pain can also originate in other...
The spleen is an organ on the left side of the body in the upper abdomen near the stomach. It filters blood cells and plays a role in the body's immune system. A dysfunctional spleen is usually due to an underlying disorder. Improper function of...
The two major types of childhood leukemia are acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia. Ever since the 1960's, survival rates for both types have been steadily climbing. According to the National Cancer Institute, less than five...
Excess abdominal gas in children, also called flatulence, is very common and is typically easy to cure. Gas is primarily made of odorless vapors, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and sometimes methane. Excess gas and gas that...
Portal hypertension refers to increased pressure in the portal vein, the vein that goes from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver. The most common cause is cirrhosis of the liver. Other causes include certain types of heart disease, which...
Mononucleosis, often known by the nicknames mono or the "kissing disease," is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and occurs commonly in teens and young adults, although older adults and young children can also contract the infection. Mono...
MayoClinic.com defines leukemia as a cancer "of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system." They explain further that the disease causes white blood cells to reproduce uncontrollably. These immature...
The abdominal region consists of all the organs found between the chest and the pelvis. With so many organs in the abdomen, including the stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, appendix, kidneys and spleen, many conditions can cause...
The spleen is an abdominal organ that is part of the lymphatic system. It is located on the left side of the abdomen, just above the stomach. The organ is approximately the size of a person's fist, according to MedlinePlus. The spleen helps...
Falls occur commonly in pregnant women, due to changes in the center of gravity and the relaxation of joints and soft tissue that occur in pregnancy. The constant shift of body mechanics plus inner ear changes cause around 27 percent of women to...
Symptoms of liver damage may develop suddenly due to medical conditions such as acute infection or exposure to environmental toxins or medication. In other cases, liver damage symptoms may emerge from chronic conditions such as chronic hepatitis...
Mononucleosis, the kissing disease, strikes mostly children and adolescents, resulting in fatigue, soreness, and fever. Learn more about mono in this health video.
