The spleen has many functions: it participates in the destruction of old red blood cells; in it specialized leukocytes are matured; it helps the renewal of the hematopoietic tissue of the bone marrow when necessary; it can act as a spongelike organ to retain or liberate blood from or for the circulation.
Total splenectomy is not incompatible with life as none of the functions of the spleen are vital and at the same time exclusive of this organ.