Anatomy

Question 1

What is the embryological origin of the spleen?

Answer 1

Mesenchymal cells of the dorsal mesogastrium during week 5 of embryogenesis

Question 2

What structures are the spleen adjacent to on its visceral surface?

Answer 2

Greater curve of stomach, Tail of pancreas, Colonic flexure, Apex of left kidney

Question 3

Which ribs protect the spleen?

Answer 3

9, 10, 11

Question 4

What are the splenic ligaments (peritoneal reflections)?

Answer 4

Splenophrenic, gastrosplenic, splenorenal, splenocolic

Question 5

What does the gastrosplenic ligament carry that is conccerning?

Answer 5

Short gastric in superior aspect

Left gastroepiploic vessels

Question 6

What does the splenorenal ligament contain?

Answer 6

Splenic artery and vein as well as tail of pancreas

Question 7

Why is it important to ligate the splenic vessels within 1cm of the hilum?

Answer 7

The tail of the pancreas abuts the splenic hilum in 30% of cases

Question 8

What supplies blood to the spleen aside from the splenic artery?

Answer 8

Short gastric arteries

Question 9

What are the 2 variations in blood supply to the spleen?

Answer 9

1) Magistral type (branches into terminal and polar branches near the hilum of the spleen)
2) Distributed type (Gives off branches early and far away from the hilum)

Question 10

How is the splenic vein created?

Answer 10

Union of several splenic veins and left gastroepiploic vein, posterior to pancreas,, joining IMV to join SMV to form portal vein