Can you live without your spleen?

Humans can live without a spleen, and if the spleen is injured, it is often removed in a procedure called a splenectomy. An injured or bruised spleen can rupture and cause massive internal bleeding. Thus, it is safer to remove the spleen than to risk it bursting.

The spleen is an organ that plays a role in a person's overall immunity. The small organ affects the body's ability to fight off pathogenic bacteria and viruses by filtering the blood and removing any foreign antigens. If the spleen is removed, then a person's immunity may weaken making him more susceptible to infections like pneumonia.