Chapter 16 Flashcards
Spleen location
Left hypochondrium
Intraperitoneal
Spleen anatomical relationships
Superior, lateral and posterior in contact with diapragm
Inferiomedial aspect in contact with kidney, stomach, panc and splenic flexure
Anatomy of spleen
Surrounded by fibrous capsule
Ovoid in shape : convex superolaterally and concave inferomedially
Smooth borders superior, posterior and laterally
Medial aspect has gentle indentations
Hilum of spleen
Splenic artery and vein enter or exit
Highly vascular organ
Spleen composed of ____ and ____ pulp
White and red
3 splenic ligaments
Splenorenal ligament
Phrenicolic ligament
Gastrosplenic ligament
Ligaments not routinely seen unless patient has acites
Functions of the spleen
Defense “immunity” : macrophages remove microorganisms from blood
Tissue repair
Hematopoesis
Red blood cell and platelet destruction
Blood reservoir: pulp and sinus store blood
Spleen can be
Congenitally absent
Surgically removed
Size of spleen
Eyballing is best way -> compare with left kidney
8-13 cm normal range
5-7 cm average width
Depends on gender age and body height
Assess volume or weight grams
Normal volume of spleen
60 to 200ml
Weight of spleen
Related to patients age and gender
<150 grams in autopsy (range 80-300g)
Smaller in women
Decrease in size with age
I shape of spleen
Convex superolaterally
Concave inferomedially
Contour of spleen
Smooth
Echogenicity of spleen
Higher than the liver and left kidney
Echotexture of spleen
Parenchyma is homogenous
Can be normal to see calcified arteries within as a patient ages
