<P> The spleen plays important roles in regard to red blood cells ( also referred to as erythrocytes ) and the immune system . It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood , which can be valuable in case of hemorrhagic shock , and also recycles iron . As a part of the mononuclear phagocyte system , it metabolizes hemoglobin removed from senescent red blood cells ( erythrocytes ) . The globin portion of hemoglobin is degraded to its constitutive amino acids , and the heme portion is metabolized to bilirubin , which is removed in the liver . </P>
<P> The spleen plays important roles in regard to red blood cells ( also referred to as erythrocytes ) and the immune system . It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood , which can be valuable in case of hemorrhagic shock , and also recycles iron . As a part of the mononuclear phagocyte system , it metabolizes hemoglobin removed from senescent red blood cells ( erythrocytes ) . The globin portion of hemoglobin is degraded to its constitutive amino acids , and the heme portion is metabolized to bilirubin , which is removed in the liver . </P>
the spleen is part of what system in the human body
the spleen is part of what system in the human body
immune system
immune system