The red pulp makes up most of the spleen, consisting of blood-filled sinusoids separated by splenic cords rich in macrophages. It gives the spleen its dark red colour.
| Location | Throughout the spleen, surrounding the white pulp |
|---|---|
| Nerve Supply | Coeliac plexus (sympathetic fibres along the splenic artery) |
| Blood Supply | Splenic artery (central and penicillar arterioles) |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Removes old or damaged red cells and platelets, recycles iron and stores platelets and monocytes.
An enlarged spleen from portal hypertension, infection or blood disorders traps blood cells in the red pulp, lowering blood counts (hypersplenism). Removal of abnormal red cells here is central to hereditary spherocytosis and autoimmune haemolytic anaemia.
An overactive enlarged spleen destroying blood cells, causing anaemia and low platelets.
Fragile spherical red cells removed in the red pulp, causing anaemia, jaundice and gallstones.
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