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The spleen in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) actually refers to the pancreas in modern medicine, not the spleen. This is an old bug in the translation of the spleen.

According to modern medicine, the functions of the pancreas are as follows, which are very helpful for understanding the spleen system in TCM:

• Endocrine: Secretes insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar levels. Secretes somatostatin, which can inhibit the secretion of many hormones in the pituitary gland and gastrointestinal system, and also regulate the secretion of endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas. PP cells: Secrete polypeptides, which can regulate the secretion of endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas, and also affect glycogen and gastrointestinal secretions.
• Exocrine: Secretes more than ten enzymes to help break down nutrients in food for intestinal absorption.

However, the functions of the spleen as understood in TCM do not fully align with the discoveries of modern medicine. For example, "Spleen Governing Blood" is a concept that arose because ancient anatomy could not delve into the microscopic mechanisms within organs. Instead, it relied on observation, correlation, and analogy to link many signs observed on the body surface with internal organs. In reality, the organs themselves may not possess those functions; those functions are more likely provided by another group of tissues with similar properties. Therefore, the spleen in TCM is actually a complex of digestive functions, which can be considered as a broad "spleen system." Its essence encompasses part or all of the functions of the pancreas, liver, stomach, and small intestine in modern medicine, largely related to the digestion, absorption, transformation, and distribution of nutrients.