Class 4 - Station 1: Accessory Organs of the GI Tract - Spleen

Question 1

What type of organ is the spleen?

Answer 1

A lymphoid organ

Question 2

What is the function of the spleen?

Answer 2

• Connected to systemic circulation
• Acts as a filter for blood (sensecent RBCs)
• Important in immune cell education
• Storage of RBCs
• Haematopoesis

Question 3

What are the 4 areas of the inferior spleen surface?

Answer 3

• Gastric
• Renal
• Pancreatic
• Colic

Question 4

How is the spleen peritonised?

Answer 4

Intraperitoneal

Question 5

In which region of the abdominal cavity is the spleen located?

Answer 5

Left hypochondriac region

Question 6

How does the spleen move with respiration?

Answer 6

Inferiorly as the diaphragm contracts during inspiration

Question 7

What are the structures in the hilum of the spleen?

Answer 7

• Splenic artery
• Splenic vein
• Lymphatic vessels

All travel through the gastrosplenic and splenorenal ligaments

Question 8

Question 9

Which organ is closely related to the hilum of the spleen?

Answer 9

• Tail of pancreas

Question 10

Why is the spleen prone to injury?

Answer 10

It’s location to the ribs

Question 11

What is the treatment for a ruptured spleen?

Answer 11

Splenectomy

Question 12

During a splenectomy what must not be damaged to avoid large complication?

Answer 12

Pancreas tail

Question 13

What covers the spleen?

Answer 13

Capsule

Question 14

What is the capsule of the spleen made of?

Answer 14

• Fibromuscular
• Collagen and elastic fibres scattered with smooth muscle

Question 15

What are the main histological features you can see to allow you to identify the spleen?

Answer 15

• Fibromuscular capsule
• White pulp
• Red pulp
• Branching trabeculae

Question 16

Which ribs are related to the spleen?

Answer 16

9

10

11