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The spleen is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, where it is protected by the inferior thoracic cage.It functions in removing old red blood cells and platelets, while recycling the iron contained in those cells. The spleen also stores red blood cells in case of hemorrhagic shock. It is the largest of the lymphoid organs, thus it has a significant role in the immune response, producing lymphocytes and monocyte/macrophages while simultaneously monitoring and responding to threats to the immune system. Though it functions in important processes, recycling of red blood cells and immune response, the organ is not vital to human life and can be removed.

Despite its protection from the inferior portion of the rib cage, the spleen is the organ injured most often in abdominal trauma. The most common damage to the organ is done by the fracturing of nearby ribs that puncture the spleen. The spleen can also be ruptured (as in illustration on left) by blunt force trauma resulting from anything from a car wreck to a fall. When the spleen is ruptured, large amounts of blood flow into the abdominal cavity and the person goes into shock. The only treatment of such an occurrence is surgical removal of the spleen (Splenectomy). The first major sign of a ruptured spleen is extreme, persistent abdominal pain, followed by changes in blood pressure and heart rate.

 The pancreas is a gland organ involved in both the digestive and endocrine systems of the human body. It is positioned between the duodenal portion of the small intestine and the spleen. It is divided into four sections: the head, tail, body, and neck. It has both endocrine and exocrine functions (illustrated below), which aid in endocrine and digestive efforts respectively. The endocrine gland produces glucagon, insulin, and somatostatin, while the exocrine portion releasing digestive enzymes into the duodenum. The digestive enzymes released into the small intestine help break down the proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates present in the ingested substances.

The pancreas is much more difficult to rupture than the spleen, but it can be done with a sharp, penetrating blow to the center of the abdomen. In such occurrences, the lumbar vertebrae of the spine act to compress the organ against the agent delivering the force, making the rupture worse. Rupturing of the pancreas can lead to damage to the duct system within the organ, which could lead to an outpouring of pancreatic juice to the surrounding tissues. Free flow of these pancreatic juices could lead to severe and painful damage to the organs and structures lying around the pancreas. Rupturing of the pancreas is rare, but when it occurs immediate surgical repair of the organ is needed.

The liver (seen below) is the second largest organ in the body (next to the skin), and it lies in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen (where like the spleen mentioned above it is protected by the inferior portion of the rib cage). It has a multitude of important functions, including: synthesis of plasma proteins, hormone production and release, glycogen storage, plasma protein synthesis, and the breakdown of red blood cells (again, just like the spleen). All of the nutrients (minus the fat) that are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract are sent to the liver by way of the hepatic portal system. Regarding the fat, the liver releases bile into the duodenum to emulsify it and break it down into micelles, which allow for lipase (fat enzyme) to break it down. The liver also function in detoxification of certain compounds, including alcohol (by way of peroxisomes present in the organ).

Unlike the pancreas, the liver is fairly easy to damage because it is large, more anteriorly located, and is made up of less stable material. As with the spleen, a fractured rib is often the cause of a perforation or tear to the organ. Perforation of the liver can cause a great deal of problems, because it disrupts the many processes the organ carries out, but the foremost problem may be the resultant bleeding from a laceration to the large amount of vasculature present. Again similar to the spleen, the main symptoms that manifest after a rupture is pain in the upper abdomen. In such an occurrence, emergency surgery would be necessary, during which the surgeon would decide whether to patch the tear or remove an entire segment of the organ.

References
Moore et al. "Clinically Oriented Anatomy" (2010) 6th ed
http://pathology.jhu.edu/pc/BasicOverview3.php
http://www.riversideonline.com/health_reference/Disease-Conditions/DS00872.cfm
http://ultimatemaquiberryreview.us/