Final answer:
The false statement about the spleen is that if it is removed, the liver will completely take over its function. While the liver has some overlapping roles, it does not replace all functions of the spleen.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which statement about the spleen is FALSE. The spleen does indeed take on several vital functions in the body. It is involved in the destruction of old red blood cells, stores platelets, and is the largest lymphatic organ in the body. The spleen filters blood, not lymph, and houses B and T cells, as well as macrophages, dendritic cells, and NK cells for immune responses. Moreover, the spleen is sometimes likened to a "filter of the blood" due to these functions.
The false statement is option a. "If the spleen is removed, the liver will take over its function." While the liver does filter blood and remove damaged red blood cells, it is not accurate to say that the liver completely takes over the function of the spleen if it is removed. After a splenectomy, other lymphoid tissues in the body such as the liver and lymph nodes do compensate to some extent, but not all functions of the spleen are entirely replaced by the liver.