What's a spleen do?

[Voadam]

I apologise as this may be in bad taste.

There's been a running joke among my friends since we saw patriot games years ago. At one point in the movie the daughter is in a car crash or something and loses her spleen.

My friend leaned over in the theater and asked in a whisper "What's a spleen do?"

My brother whispered back "I don't know, but its important!"

For some reason that cracked us up.

So now I want to make a hackmaster like d20 monster that rips out a spleen when it causes a critical hit. Unfortunately I don't know what functions a spleen does.

The dictionary says it has various functions in modifying the structure of blood and was formerly considered the seat of certain emotions.

Can anybody shed light on this, the second one is interesting and has potential in a mystical sense, but what emotions? Is it the second definition: malice, spite or bad temper? Thus venting your spleen would be pouring out your hate?

alternatively what would be good game effects for the medical effects of a spleen attack as opposed to the symbolic ones?

 

[kengar]

From Webster's:

Main Entry: spleen
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English splen, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French esplen, from Latin splen, from Greek splEn; akin to Latin lien spleen, Sanskrit plIhan
Date: 14th century
1 : a highly vascular ductless organ that is located in the left abdominal region near the stomach or intestine of most vertebrates and is concerned with final destruction of red blood cells, filtration and storage of blood, and production of lymphocytes.

Basically this means that it is important to keeping infections and toxicity levels low in the bloodstream. I'm not a medical person, so maybe someone else can give a better explanation than this one.

 

[DerianCypher]

I couldn't tell you exactly what it does, but I do know that you can live without a spleen.

DC

 

[MerakSpielman]

You know, a lot of words rhyme with "spleen."

Like "Bean."

 

[alsih2o]

you can live without one, from www.webmd.com -

Although its known functions are important and many of its other functions are poorly understood, the spleen is not an indispensable organ. Normally, the other reticuloendothelial cells scattered throughout the body take over its chores once the spleen is removed. However, those persons who no longer have a functioning spleen, either as a result of splenectomy or because of a destructive disease process, are at very high risk for the development of life-threatening infections, especially those caused by pneumococci.

 

[Olive]

in the middle ages (and later) the spleen was considered to be the source of the humours that caused the emotion of anger.

Wheich is where the phrase 'vent your spleen' comes from... meaning letting out your anger.

 

[LazarusLong42]

Basically, the spleen has two functions. It functions as a really large lymph node--a gathering place for T-cells and B-cells. Thus, as stated above, it acts as a filter for foreign organisms/proteins/whatnot.

The second function is to remove dead/dying/old red blood cells from the bloodstream. Bone marrow also supplements this function.

Having your spleen removed is not deadly, because the former function is taken over by the lymph nodes and generally by the immune system (though your immune system will be weakened a bit), and the second function can be completely taken over by the marrow and immune system if need be. However, you're definitely better off with a spleen than without.

(Also, in fetuses, the spleen produces the RBCs before the marrow has really developed, up to a few months after birth IIRC).

Edit: Obviously, I type too slow

 

[KnowTheToe]

you can live without one, from www.webmd.com -

Although its known functions are important and many of its other functions are poorly understood, the spleen is not an indispensable organ. Normally, the other reticuloendothelial cells scattered throughout the body take over its chores once the spleen is removed. However, those persons who no longer have a functioning spleen, either as a result of splenectomy or because of a destructive disease process, are at very high risk for the development of life-threatening infections, especially those caused by pneumococci.

Permanent neg to con saves vs disease and poison.

 

[Angcuru]

From what I know, it is also what creates adreneline in your blood. Life would be boring without adreneline!

 

[Cold Beer]

From what I know, it is also what creates adreneline in your blood. Life would be boring without adreneline!

Adrenelin is produced by the adrenal glands that are next to your kidneys.

U of C on Adrenal Glands