Final answer:
The spleen has two primary functions regarding blood: it filters and removes damaged red blood cells and serves as a secondary lymphoid organ that initiates immune responses to blood-borne pathogens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The spleen performs two significant functions related to blood. Firstly, the spleen filters and removes damaged red blood cells and foreign substances from the blood. This is accomplished by the red pulp, which functions primarily as a filtration system of the blood, where macrophages residing in the reticular fibers engulf and break down old and defective red blood cells. Secondly, the spleen plays a critical role in immune system responses by acting as a secondary lymphoid organ. The white pulp of the spleen is rich in immune cells, including B cells, T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and NK cells.
It acts much like a lymph node for the blood, trapping foreign particles such as antigen-coated bacteria and initiating the adaptive immune response, including the production and secretion of antibodies by plasma cells.The spleen has two main functions in regards to blood:Filtration: The spleen filters the blood to remove pathogens and other materials, including dying red blood cells. It is sometimes called the 'filter of the blood'.Immune Response: The spleen houses B and T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and NK cells. It synthesizes and secretes antibodies and functions as the location of immune responses to blood-borne pathogens.