bazo

Bazo is the Spanish word for the spleen, an organ of the lymphatic system. In everyday language, bazo refers to the organ that filters blood, recycles iron from worn red blood cells, stores platelets, and helps mount immune responses to blood-borne pathogens. In medical terminology, the adjective esplénico is often used to describe things related to the spleen.

Anatomically, the spleen is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, beneath the diaphragm and behind the stomach. It receives blood through the splenic artery and drains via the splenic veins. While the spleen performs important immune and hematologic functions, it is not essential for life; individuals can live after splenectomy, though vaccination and infection precautions are advised.

In addition to its anatomical and physiological meaning, bazo appears as a surname in some Spanish-speaking regions and can occur in various place names and personal names. These uses are separate from the anatomical sense and reflect linguistic inheritance rather than organ function.

Summary: Bazo most commonly denotes the spleen in Spanish, with essential roles in blood filtration and immune defense. The term also appears in non-anatomical contexts as a surname or part of proper names.