Insulin is a hormone, that is made by the pancreas, that acts like a key to help glucose (sugar) from food enter your body's cells for energy.

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When you eat, carbs break down into glucose, raising blood sugar levels, which signals the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin binds to cell receptors, opening "doors" (like GLUT4 transporters) so glucose moves from the blood into cells, especially in muscles, fat, and the liver, lowering blood sugar back to normal.

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Excess glucose gets stored as glycogen or fat for later use, keeping energy balanced until your next meal.

How the Spleen Works

The spleen acts like a filter and storage unit for your blood, located in the upper left side of your abdomen under the ribcage. It cleans blood by removing old, damaged, or abnormal red blood cells, then recycles their iron and breaks down hemoglobin into parts the body can reuse, like amino acids and bilirubin processed by the liver.​​

Key Functions

It stores extra red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells, releasing them during emergencies like heavy bleeding to help maintain blood volume. The spleen also supports immunity by producing lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) in its white pulp and using macrophages to trap and destroy germs, bacteria, or antibody-coated invaders in the blood.​​

Structure Basics

Blood flows through narrow passages in the spleen's red pulp for filtering, while the white pulp handles immune responses like antibody production. Though not essential for survival—other lymphatic parts can compensate if removed—it boosts infection-fighting ability, and its absence raises risks for certain illnesses.