Red pulp
Red pulp is a component of the spleen that acts as a filter for the blood. It is named for its red appearance, due to the high number of red blood cells that pass through it.
Structure[edit | edit source]
The red pulp of the spleen is made up of a network of sinusoids filled with blood, and separated by regions of reticular connective tissue known as the cords of Billroth. These cords contain large numbers of red blood cells, as well as other cells of the immune system, such as macrophages.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of the red pulp is to filter the blood of antigens, microorganisms, and defective or worn-out red blood cells. The macrophages in the red pulp phagocytose (engulf and destroy) these unwanted materials, and the filtered blood is then returned to the circulation.
The red pulp also serves as a reservoir for a large number of platelets, which can be rapidly released into the bloodstream in response to injury or inflammation.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Diseases and conditions that affect the red pulp can have a significant impact on overall health. For example, in sickle cell disease, the abnormal shape of the red blood cells can lead to their premature destruction in the red pulp, resulting in anemia. Infections, such as malaria, can also affect the function of the red pulp.
Splenectomy, or surgical removal of the spleen, can lead to a decrease in the body's ability to filter out harmful substances from the blood and can increase the risk of certain types of infections.
See also[edit | edit source]
This article is a hematology stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
