A 12-year-old male is diagnosed with sickle cell anemia. A blood smear reveals severely sickled cells. The sickled cells will be removed from circulation mostly by the:
A) liver.
B) pancreas.
C) kidney.
D) spleen.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The spleen is responsible for removing old, damaged, or abnormal red blood cells from circulation. In sickle cell anemia, the sickled cells are more fragile and susceptible to damage, and the spleen will remove them from circulation at a faster rate than normal red blood cells. This increased rate of removal can lead to anemia in individuals with sickle cell anemia.

A 12-Year-Old Male Is Diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia