ANATOMY- The Spleen

Question 1

What are the Functions of the SPLEEN?

Answer 1

1) Haematopoesis in an Infant

2) Removal of RBCs from circulation

3) Recycling Iron to the bone marrow

4) Immunologic response to antigens

Question 2

What is the ARTERIAL supply of the SPLEEN?

Answer 2

Splenic Artery

Question 3

Where does the Splenic artery come from?

Answer 3

Coeliac Trunk of the Abdominal Aorta

Question 4

What is significant with regards to the shape of the splenic artery?

Answer 4

TORTUOUS ARTERY

Question 5

What LIGAMENT contains the SPLENIC ARTERY and SPLENIC VEIN?

Answer 5

Splenorenal Ligament

Question 6

What is the relationship of the Splenic Artery to the Splenic Vein?

Answer 6

The splenic vein is INFERIOR and POSTERIOR to the Splenic artery

Question 7

SPLENIC VESSELS

Answer 7

Question 8

What are the BRANCHES of the SPLENIC ARTERY?

Answer 8

1) Pancreatic Branches

2) Short Gastric Arteries

3) LEFT Gastroepiploic Artery

Question 9

Where does the SPLENIC VEIN Drain?

Answer 9

Hepatic Portal Vein

Question 10

What other vessel does the SPLENIC VEIN join to form the HEPATIC PORTAL VEIN?

Where does this take place?

Answer 10

SUPERIOR MESENTERIC VEIN

POSTERIOR TO THE NECK OF THE PANCREAS

Question 11

What RIBS sit anterior to the Spleen?

Answer 11

9th, 10th, 11th Ribs

Question 12

What is the GASTROSPLENIC LIGAMENT?

Answer 12

Layer of Peritoneum from the Greater Curvature of the Stomach to the Hilum of the Spleen

Question 13

What are the CONTENTS of the Gastrosplenic Ligament?

Answer 13

Short Gastric Vessels

Left Gastro-epiploic vessels

Question 14

Histologically what are the 2 main regions of the spleen?

Answer 14

RED PULP

WHITE PULP

Question 15

Does RED or WHITE Pulp make up the Majority of Splenic Tissue?

Answer 15

RED PULP

Question 16

Describe the Structure of RED PULP?

Answer 16

Consists of Splenic Sinusoids separated by Cords of Billroth

Question 17

What cells are found in the CORDS OF BILLROTH?

Answer 17

Macrophages

Question 18

What makes up the majority of the splenic sinusoids?

Answer 18

Blood flows slowly through the sinusoids and is exposed to Macrophages in the Cords of Billroth

Parenchyma
Venous Sinuses

Question 19

Histology of the SPLEEN

Answer 19

Question 20

What is found in the WHITE PULP?

Answer 20

T-Cells
B-Cells

Question 21

What is an ACCESSORY Spleen?

Answer 21

Nodules of Splenic tissue located outside of the main body of the spleen.

Accessory spleens may enlarge following a splenectomy

Question 22

Which organisms a patients most at risk of developing infections following SPLENECTOMY?

Answer 22

ENCAPSULATED BACTERIA

1) Haemophilus Influenza

2) Strep Pneumonia

3) Neisseria Meningitidis

Question 23

What are changes in blood results in patients who have had a splenectomy?

Answer 23

Reactive THROMBOCYTOSIS

LEUKOCYTOSIS

Howell- Jolly Bodies

Question 24

What are Howell- Jolly Bodies?

Answer 24

Remnants of RBC Nucleus which are removed by the spleen

Question 25

HOWELL- JOLLY BODIES

Answer 25

Question 26

What are Pappenheimer Bodies?

Answer 26

Granules of Iron found within RBCs

They are found in patients with:

-Sickle cell anaemia
-Lead Poisoning
-Haemolytic Anaemia
-Myleodysplastic Syndrome