spleen

spleen   (splēn)    n.   A large, highly vascular lymphoid organ, lying in the human body to the left of the stomach below the diaphragm, serving to store blood, disintegrate old blood cells, filter foreign substances from the blood, and produce lymphocytes. A homologous organ or tissue in other vertebrates. Obsolete This organ conceived as the seat of emotions or passions. Ill temper: vent one's spleen. Archaic Melancholy. Obsolete A whim; a caprice. [Middle English splen, from Old French esplen, from Latin splēn, from Greek.] spleen'y adj.

Main Entry: spleen
Pronunciation: 'splEn
Function: noun
: a highly vascular ductless abdominal organ of vertebrates that resembles a gland in organizationbut is closely associated with the circulatory system, that plays a role in the final destruction of red blood cells, filtration and storage of blood, and production of lymphocytes, and that in humansis a dark purplish flattened oblong object of a soft fragile consistency lying near the cardiac end of the stomach and consisting largely of blood and lymphoid tissue enclosed in a fibroelastic capsulefrom which trabeculae ramify through the tissue of the organ which is divisible into a loose friable red pulp in intimate connection with the blood supply and with red blood cells free in itsinterstices and a denser white pulp chiefly of lymphoid tissue condensed in masses about the small arteries

spleen (splēn)
n.
A large, highly vascular lymphoid organ, lying to the left of the stomach below the diaphragm and serving to store blood, disintegrate old blood cells, filter foreign substances from the blood, and to produce lymphocytes.

spleen   (splēn)  Pronunciation Key  An organ in vertebrate animals that in humans is located on the left side of the abdomen near the stomach. The spleen is mainly composed of lymph nodes and blood vessels. It filters the blood, stores red blood cells (erythrocytes) and destroys old ones, and produces white blood cells (lymphocytes).

spleen

see vent one's spleen.