Система Orphus

Symptoms of disease - pain in the spleen

Spleen (lien, splen) - Gypsy parenchymal organ that performs the immune, filtration and hematopoietic function, taking part in the exchange of substances, in particular iron and protein. Located spleen in the abdominal cavity, in the left hypochondrium. The average length of adult 80-150 mm, a width of 60 to 90 mm, the thickness of 40-60 mm, weight of 140-200 g. Place of entry to the body of the arteries and nerves and out of veins and lymphatic vessels gate called the spleen. The peritoneum, covering the spleen with all the parties, except for the gate and the site to which adjoins tail of the pancreas, forms a ligament. Due to them and intra-abdominal pressure is carried out fixation of the spleen.

The spleen is covered by a capsule. In section shall be determined by numerous trabeculae, which differ radially from the gate of the spleen. They are arteries, veins, lymphatic vessels and nerve fibers. This connective tissue skeleton and a few gladkomyshechne cells form of support-contractile apparatus of the spleen, able to withstand the significant increase in it in volume.

The most important function of the spleen is immune. Phagocytic mononuclears spleen capture harmful substances, purify the blood of bacteria, viruses, and other foreign agents. In addition, lymphocytes and plasma cells of the spleen are involved in the immune response, promoting excretion of alien to the body of antigens. In some autoimmune diseases (for example, with thrombocytopenic purple, autoimmune hemolytic anemia) in this body produce antibodies. The cells of the spleen produce immunoglobulins. Spleen carries out the control of the circulating blood cells, first of all for your aging and pathologically altered red blood cells that are destroyed by the phagocytes of the spleen (filtration function). The lien is not only destroys, but also accumulates all elements of identifications blood - red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets (thrombocytes). In particular, it contains up to 50% of platelets, which, when necessary, are released into the bloodstream.

In the spleen (as well as in the liver) no nociceptors, and it can't hurt. Pain arises only from stretching capsules, as a result of rapid increase.



Which diseases there is pain in the spleen

The main causes of pain in the spleen:

1. Damage to the spleen, which can be open and closed. Open damage to arise in penetrating knife, stab or gunshot wounds of the abdomen or the left side of the chest with a simultaneous injury of the aperture. Causes of closed damage is most often hit in the left hypochondrium, falling on his stomach, impaction of the abdomen and the left side of the chest with a simultaneous fracture of the lower ribs on the left. Possible cracks and wounds of the spleen of different depth and length, samples of the parts and the whole of the spleen. Ruptures of the spleen is often complicated by bleeding in the abdomen and shock. Immediately after the injury appear sharp pain in the spleen in the left hypochondrium, which changes in the left shoulder, collarbone and shoulder blade, paleness of skin, cold sweat; there are frequent small pulse, a fall in blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, thirst. The victim takes the typical position on the left side of the to the to the stomach, hips or semisitting position. On the skin of the abdomen can be found abrasions, bruises. Respiratory excursions left side of the abdominal wall are limited, it is painful, stiff, symptom schetkina-Bloomberg positive. Percussion is determined by a lessening in the left hypochondrium. With a significant congestion of blood in the abdominal cavity zone deadening percussion sound moves with the change of the position of the body of the patient.

2. Pain in the spleen may be in a variety of diseases. In the pathological process of the spleen is involved in many of the infectious diseases - abdominal and typhus typhoid, sepsis, anthrax, infectious mononucleosis, acute viral hepatitis, infectious lymphocytosis, cytomegalovirus infection, malaria, visceral leishmaniasis, tularemia, listeria, brucellosis, syphilis.

3. Myocardial spleen may develop as a result of thromboembolism branches splenic artery or its local thrombosis with leukaemias, diffuse disease connective tissue, a number of infections, atherosclerosis, lymphosarcoma, etc. The clinical picture of a heart attack spleen depends on its size. Small infarcts asymptomatic. When more extensive lesions as a result of the development of perisplenita (inflammation of the capsule of the spleen) there is pain in the spleen in the left hypohondrium, often radiating to the back and growing in case of inhalation. On the left is defined expressed phrenicus-symptom can listen to the noise of the friction of the peritoneum.

4. Abscess of the spleen may develop in cases of bacteremia on the background of endocarditis or Salmonella, as well as when infected with infarctions of the spleen, subcapsular hematomas; when hemoglobinopathies, sickle-cell anemia, a breakthrough in the spleen subphrenic abscess. Symptoms often is characterized by fever, pain in the upper left part of the abdomen and chest (at the expense of the jet pleurisy), which may irradiate in the left shoulder. Often a tension of the muscles of the front abdominal wall and splenomegaly.

5. Tuberculosis, spleen is often a manifestation of miliary tuberculosis. Isolated tuberculosis spleen is rare, occurs with poor clinical symptomatology.

6. Of parasitic diseases of the spleen occurs Echinococcus. Often marked the defeat of a single-echinococcosis. Possible rupture of the bladder echinococcosis and seeding subsidiaries scolex the abdominal cavity. Identify the disease is quite difficult. In the diagnosis play an important role radiography and computed tomography.

7. The tumor. Primary tumors of the spleen as benign and malignant, occur rarely. From benign tumors in the spleen find hemangioma, lymphangitis and fibroma. Among the primary malignant tumors of the spleen most often observed lymphoma.

In the beginning of the development of tumors of the spleen, as a rule, do not give the clinical manifestations. In the process of growth of the tumor nodes and increase the body of the patients feel a heaviness, a dull pain in the spleen in the left hypohondrium.



Which doctor should I contact if there is a pain in the spleen

  • Surgeon
  • Hematologist
  • Infectious disease physician
  • Traumatologist
  • Oncologist


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Do you feel spleen hurts? You should be very careful approach to your health in general. People pay not enough attention to the symptoms of the disease and don't realize that these diseases can be critically dangerous. There are many diseases that in the beginning didn't manifest in our body, but in the end it turns out, unfortunately, it have already been treated too late. Every disease has its own specific features typical symptoms - called symptoms of the disease. Definition of symptoms is the first step in the diagnosis of diseases in general. You just need a few times a year to be screened by a doctor, not only to prevent a terrible disease, but also to maintain a healthy spirit in a body and the organism in general.

Pains by category

Pains by alphabet


Map of the symptoms and the types of pain is intended solely for educational purposes. We strongly recommend do NOT self-medicate; on all matters relating to the definition of the disease and ways of its treatment, contact your doctor. Md-tips is not responsible for the consequences of use information posted on the site.

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