Blood, 1959, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp. 399-408.
© 1959 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Normal Functions of the Spleen Relative to
Red Blood Cells: A Review
WILLIAM H. CROSBY 1
1 Department of Hematology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Walter
Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D. C.
During all the stages of a red cells life the normal spleen exerts a normal
function. Eight of these functions have been considered: (1) erythropoiesis;
(2) an effect upon red cell production; (3) an effect upon maturation of the
red cell surface; (4) the reservoir function; (5) the "culling function"; (6)
iron turnover and storage; (7) the "pitting function"; (8) destruction of old
red cells.
Submitted on June 13, 1958
Accepted on June 16, 1958