During heart surgery, red blood cells are damaged. When the blood passes through the lymphatic system, these damaged red blood cells are trapped and broken down by macrophages. In which organ in the lymphatic system does the breakdown of damaged red blood cells take place?
Answers
The spleen is part of the lymphatic system, which is an extensive drainage network. The lymphatic (lim-FAT-ik) system works to keep body fluid levels in balance and to defend the body against infections. It is made up of a network of lymphatic vessels that carry lymph — a clear, watery fluid that contains proteins, salts, and other substances — throughout the body.
What Does the Spleen Do?
The spleen acts as a filter. It weeds out old and damaged cells and helps control the amount of blood and blood cells that circulate in the body.
Diagram showing location of spleen in upper left part of the belly, to the left
of and behind the stomach.
The spleen also helps get rid of germs. It contains white blood cells called lymphocytes and macrophages. These cells work to attack and destroy germs and remove them from the blood that passes through the spleen.
The body also uses the spleen as a place to store blood and iron for future use.
What Does the Lymphatic System Do?
One of the lymphatic system's major jobs is to collect extra lymph fluid from body tissues and return it to the blood. This is important because water, proteins, and other substances are always leaking out of tiny blood capillaries into the surrounding body tissues. If the lymphatic system didn't drain the excess fluid, the lymph fluid would build up in the body's tissues, making them swell.
The lymphatic system is a network of very small tubes (or vessels) that drain lymph fluid from all over the body. The major parts of the lymph tissue are located in the:
bone marrow
spleen
thymus gland
lymph nodes
tonsils
The heart, lungs, intestines, liver, and skin also contain lymphatic tissue.
The organ in the lymphatic system does the breakdown of damaged red blood cells takes place in the Spleen.
Explanation:
- The Spleen is located in the upper left part of the belly under the ribcage.
- It helps protects the body by clearing worn-out red blood cells and other foreign bodies from the bloodstream.
- The Spleen is part of the lymphatic system, which is an extensive drainage network.
- The Spleen acts as a filter. It weeds out old and damaged cells and helps control the amount of blood and blood cells that circulate in the body.
- The spleen also helps get rid of germs. It contains white blood cells called lymphocytes and macrophages.
- The body also uses the spleen as a place to store blood and iron for future use.
- The Lymphatic System is a network of very small tubes that drain lymph fluid from all over the body. The major parts of the lymph tissue are located in the:
1.bone marrow
2.spleen
3.thymus gland
4.lymph nodes
5.tonsils