Anatomy of finfish and shellfish

4.2.3.

Unit 4 - Gastro Intestinal Tract OR Digestive system and associated digestive glands

Section 3: Spleen
The spleen is usually recognized as a dark red structure lying on or behind the stomach to which it attaches by a band like ligament. Although it is associated with the digestive organs it has no digestive function, but rather is instrumental in blood cell formation (The function of red blood cell distraction is ascribed to spleen of higher bony fishes). In lampreys and Hag fishes, which do not have a compact spleen, spleen like tissue is diffused along the intestine.