Zesty spleen physiology & laboratory

What is the major function of the spleen?

• drain lymph

• filter peripheral blood

• filter waste products

• create white blood cells and fight infections

Where is pulp located?

• in the splenic cortex

• within the lobules of the spleen

• in the parenchyma

• in the lesser sac

What does white pulp consist of?

• malpighian corpuscles

• splenic sinuses

• lymphoid tissue

• phagocytic macrophages

Is the spleen essential to life?

• yes

• no

Which of the following is not a function of the spleen of the reticuloendothelial system?

• production of antibodies

• production of lymphocytes and plasma cells

• stores iron and other metabolites

• produce and filter leukocytes

What does an abnormally low hematocrit indicate?

• lack of production of red blood cells

• trauma

• malignancy

• hemorrhage or internal bleeding

What are the two components composed within the spleen?

• red pulp & splenic sinuses

• white pulp & malpighian corpuscles

• red pulp & white pulp

• erythrocytes & leukocytes

What does red pulp consist of?

• nuclei from red blood cells

• splenic sinuses alternating with splenic cords

• erythrocytes and hemoglobin

• small nodular masses of lymphoid tissue

What does the term sepsis indicate?

• hemorrhage or internal bleeding

• bacteria within the bloodstream

• process of removing nuclei from red blood cells

• pitting, culling, maturation, or disposal of abnormal erythrocytes

A normal spleen contains how many erythrocytes?

• 10-20 mL

• 20-30 mL

• 30-40 mL

• 40-50 mL