This organ in the human body, about the size of your fist, is located behind the stomach. Its most important function is filtering foreign substances from the blood, as well as helping the body fight infections. What is the name of this organ?

This hard-working organ is a critical component of your immune and lymphatic systems. True to the description, it's typically about the size of a person's fist and is tucked away behind the stomach on the left side of the body. The spleen acts as a sophisticated filter for your blood, removing old or damaged red blood cells and recycling their useful components like iron. At the same time, it serves as a security checkpoint, trapping and destroying bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders it detects in the bloodstream.

Internally, the spleen contains two main types of tissue. The "red pulp" is responsible for the blood-filtering duties, while the "white pulp" is rich in white blood cells and plays a direct role in fighting infection. Interestingly, while the spleen is incredibly important, humans can live without it. If the organ is removed due to injury or disease, a procedure called a splenectomy, other organs like the liver and bone marrow will take over many of its functions. However, individuals without a spleen are more susceptible to certain types of infections for the rest of their lives.