Though in early childhood the spleen may be enlarged with sickle cell anemia, continual stasis and trapping of abnormal RBC's leads to infarctions that eventually reduce the size of the spleen tremendously by adolescence. This is sometimes called "autosplenectomy". Seen here is the small remnant of spleen in a patient with sickle cell anemia.

Question: What is the inheritance pattern for sickle cell anemia?

Answer Autosomal recessive, with homozygotes severely affected and heterozygotes minimally affected.