Correct Answer:
B. RBC
The correct answer is RBC (Red Blood Cells). The spleen plays a vital role in the circulatory system by filtering blood and removing old, damaged, or abnormal red blood cells. As red blood cells age (typically after about 120 days), they become less flexible and are trapped in the spleen's narrow capillaries. Macrophages within the spleen then phagocytose these senescent cells, breaking them down and recycling their components, such as iron. This crucial function is why the spleen is often metaphorically referred to as the "graveyard of RBCs."
- While the spleen is involved in immune responses and stores some WBC (White Blood Cells), it is not primarily their graveyard.
- The spleen also stores Platelets, which are essential for blood clotting, but it is not their main site of destruction.
- The Liver has numerous functions, including detoxification and metabolism, but the spleen is the primary organ responsible for the destruction of old red blood cells.