What is located under the ribs on the left side of body?

The spleen is an internal organ that can be found beneath the ribs on the left side of the abdomen. Many of the body's major organs rely on the rib cage to protect them from harm.

According to the University of Kansas Medical Center, the spleen can be found in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen, situated between the 9th and 11th ribs. In the event of a serious injury, the spleen can release additional red blood cells into the bloodstream, which helps the body to better manage the potentially life-threatening symptoms of massive blood loss and hypovolemic shock.