Obscure Organs – Part 4

Quick question. What does your spleen do? It is an obscure but crucial organ. The spleen is officially part of the lymphatic system, a series of vessels that complement our blood vessels by filtering and returning blood plasma to the heart. Although it is only the size of your fist, at any given time about 5% of your blood is passing through the spleen. Red blood cells are squeezed through the pulp to test them so that brittle old cells can be removed. The spleen assists in red blood cell production. If the lymph is the garbage collection system (collecting the spent fluid, dead cellular debris and bacteria) then the spleen is the recycling center. Moreover, as a key part of the immune system, the spleen removes foreign particles and microorganisms. It helps host special blood cells called memory T cells, which learn to recognize dangerous invaders by their outside shapes. After an infection, bits of the infecting bacterial proteins will be saved so that the T cells can remember it as an enemy antigen. The next time, our immune system is better able to spot the tiny attackers and quickly kill them. Ephesians 4:16 reminds us of the importance in the body of Christ of each obscure component, “according to the effectual working in the measure of every part.”

Posted on May 1, 2017 by dwoetzel.

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