spleen

1. an organ that produces lymphocytes, filters and stores blood, and destroys old red blood cells. Although it is not necessary to maintain life, the absence of a spleen may predispose an individual to certain infections.

2. bad temper or ill will.

3. an old term for melancholy or depression.

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Psychology term of the day

November 27th 2024

weight regulation

a process, governed by a complex array of neural mechanisms and structures (including the hypothalamus), in which the brain seeks an optimum balance between an organism’s food intake and energy expenditure after a certain body weight is achieved. A number of other factors, such as environmental stimuli, may influence the process as well.