What Does a Ruptured Spleen Feel Like?
Are you interested in medicine, and do you want to know what does a ruptured spleen feel like? A spleen is an organ that is found in almost all vertebrate animals. The spleen is an important part of the lymphatic system, and it plays an important role with red blood cells. Yet, a spleen can rupture, and thus it is important for you to understand what this pain would feel like so that you can quickly get to the doctor. So, what does a ruptured spleen feel like?
In humans, the spleen is located in the upper left area of one’s abdomen. It is a part of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a network in the body that carries a clear liquid that is known as lymph.
Some of the organs and components that are included in the lymphatic system are the following:
- spleen
- thymus
- bone marrow
- lymphoid tissue that is included in the digestive system
If the spleen is healthy, it is approximately eleven centimeters in length. The average adult spleen weighs about one hundred and fifty grams, and it is specifically located beneath the thoracic ribs. The spleen is derived from mesenchymal tissue, which makes it unique among the organs located in the abdomen.
The majority of viscera located in the abdomen are endodermally derived. In contrast, the spleen forms both within and from the dorsal mesentery. Despite this, it still receives blood from the celiac trunk as the rest of the organs in the abdomen do.
Function of the Spleen
The spleen has a number of important functions. The spleen mechanically filters red blood cells, by removing older red blood cells and holding a reserve of blood. This reserve of blood is in case one’s body goes into hemorrhagic shock during the process of recycling iron.
Hemorrhagic shock is a life-threatening occurrence in which there is a decrease in tissue perfusion until the cellular metabolic needs cannot be met. The spleen also performs an important role for the immune system. The immune system is the system of organs and biological processes that protect one’s body against diseases.
The system is able to do this by killing pathogens and tumor cells. The spleen synthesizes antibodies in the spleen’s white pulp and then removes any antibody-coated bacteria through blood and lymph node circulation.
Causes of Spleen Problems
There are several different splenic disorders which causes the spleen not to operate correctly. One of these diseases is splenomegaly. Splenomegaly is the enlargement of the spleen, and it can be caused by a number of different factors. For example, sickle cell anemia, or malaria can both result in splenomegaly.
Some of the symptoms of splenomegaly include abdominal pain, chest pain, and back pain. Another type of splenic disorder is asplenia. Asplenia is the absence of normal spleen functioning, and some of the causes of it include sickle-cell disease, or certain genetic disorders such as heterodoxy syndrome. It increases the risk of sepsis.
What Does a Ruptured Spleen Feel Like?
So, then what does a ruptured spleen feel like? A ruptured spleen is incredibly painful, and it is unlikely that you would be able to suffer through a ruptured spleen for long. Furthermore, if you have a ruptured spleen, you will usually feel a nagging pain that occurs below the left shoulder.
This is because the spleen frequently leaks blood. This leakage of blood often manifests itself as a pain in the left shoulder, even though the spleen is located elsewhere.
Your abdomen will often feel extremely tender and sore, as well. Since the spleen is quite soft, it is vulnerable for being ruptured. A ruptured spleen can occur from a number of different sources, such as sports injuries, car accidents, or even a severe blow to one’s stomach.
If you have these symptoms, you must contact your doctor immediately because a ruptured spleen is extremely dangerous. If it is not treated, it can result in death.