tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19490962.post114072806535044891..comments2023-12-10T10:06:41.979+00:00Comments on mutations of mortality: Spleen 2Terry Hamblinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346629921055055879noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19490962.post-68413756143375456682009-05-27T21:34:12.374+01:002009-05-27T21:34:12.374+01:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19490962.post-44414755067061009272009-05-27T21:27:19.940+01:002009-05-27T21:27:19.940+01:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19490962.post-1141314848511813682006-03-02T15:54:00.000+00:002006-03-02T15:54:00.000+00:00MarcThink of the spleen as a large filter on the b...Marc<BR/><BR/>Think of the spleen as a large filter on the blood stream. The quick way through is to by-pass the filter- that only takes a few seconds, but if you go through the filter it takes about an hour.<BR/><BR/>The plasma skimming is to divert most of the plasma and the white cells into the white pulp. This leaves the reamaining red cells going through the filter at a higher concentration. Should any of the red cells be coated with immunoglobulin they are succeptible to the immunoglobulin receptors on the macrophages. Normally these receptors are occupied by normal immunoglobuin from the plasma, but in the spleen most of the plasma has been skimmed off so the receptors can bind to the immunoglobulin on the red cells. There are macrophages elsewhere than the spleen - the liver and lungs for instance, but these cannot bind the red cells because their receptors are occupied by plasma immunoglobulin.Terry Hamblinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06346629921055055879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19490962.post-1141051821089503012006-02-27T14:50:00.000+00:002006-02-27T14:50:00.000+00:00Well I have had to read this post several times, a...Well I have had to read this post several times, and I'm still not sure I quite understand it completely. <BR/><BR/>In trying to relate this post to your first post about spleens, referencing the short and long routes, I understand the short route is through the arterioles and the long route is through the splenic arteries? <BR/><BR/>And in a diseased spleen less blood gets skimmed into the arterioles, were the red cells tend to get eaten, leaving the remaining, which did not get skimmed, lost in the spleen? Is that a relatively accurate laymans interpretation? or am I way off base?<BR/><BR/>As far as the macrophages binding to the immunoglobulin, I just can't seem to get handle on that. <BR/><BR/>When you say, "In the spleen the high hematocrit means that there is less plasma protecting antibody- coated red cells", do you mean there is less immunoglobulin? So then the red blood cells get nipped away at by the macrophages, and get trapped?<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure how important it is for me to really understand all this, but when you have an enlarged spleen, it does become slightly more pertinent.Marchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12251767948946165916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19490962.post-1140936676344549302006-02-26T06:51:00.000+00:002006-02-26T06:51:00.000+00:00Thanks!A very interesting lesson in spleen-ology. ...Thanks!<BR/><BR/>A very interesting lesson in spleen-ology. <BR/><BR/>I suppose in the healthy individual, the older red blood cells are removed in the spleen, so that would be one purpose.<BR/><BR/>The spleen is also involved in some immune functions, I am given to understand. I believe those who have had their spleen removed are more susceptible to blood poisoning, to use a layman's term.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19490962.post-1140883088817631202006-02-25T15:58:00.000+00:002006-02-25T15:58:00.000+00:00Prof. Hamblin,What is the purpose of the spleen in...Prof. Hamblin,<BR/><BR/>What is the purpose of the spleen in a healthy organism? <BR/><BR/>Which brings up the second question: isn't there a disadvantage in losing our spleens to splenectomy?<BR/><BR/>AndyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com