Lesson 16 (Part 1)

Question 1

What quadrant is the spleen located in?

Answer 1

LUQ

Question 2

What region would you find the spleen in?

Answer 2

Left hypochondrium

Question 3

Is the spleen intra or retroperitoneal?

Answer 3

Intraperitoneal

Question 4

What parts of the spleen are in contact with the diaphragm? (3)

Answer 4

1. Superior
2. Lateral
3. Posterior

Question 5

What is the inferior/medial aspect of the spleen in contact with? (4)

Answer 5

1. Stomach
2. Left kidney
3. Pancreas
4. Splenic flexure

Question 6

Where is the spleen compared to the left kidney?

Answer 6

It is superior to it

Question 7

Where is the spleen compared to the stomach?

Answer 7

Posterior to it

Question 8

Where is the spleen compared to the pancreas?

Answer 8

Superior and lateral to the pancreas tail

Question 9

What is the spleen surrounded by?

Answer 9

A fibrous capsule

Question 10

What is the shape of the spleen?

Answer 10

Ovoid shaped

• convex superior/laterally
• concave inferior/medially

Question 11

What is the contour of the spleen?

Answer 11

Smooth borders

• superior, posterior and laterally
• not at the hilum (medial)

Question 12

What is the contour of the medial aspect of the spleen?

Answer 12

Has gentle indentations

Question 13

What kind of organ is the spleen?

Answer 13

A highly vascular organ

Question 14

What passes through the hilum of the spleen? (2)

Answer 14

1. Splenic artery

2. Splenic vien

Question 15

What is the spleen composed of? (2)

Answer 15

1. White pulp

2. Red pulp

Question 16

What is special about the splenic artery?

Answer 16

It is tortuous

Question 17

What are the ligaments of the spleen? (3)

Answer 17

1. Splenorenal ligament
2. Phrenicocolic ligament
3. Gastrosplenic ligament

Question 18

When do we see the splenic arteries?

Answer 18

If patients have ascites

- not routinely seen

Question 19

What are functions of the spleen? (5)

Answer 19

1. Defence
   - immunity
2. Tissue repair
3. Hematopoesis
4. RBC and platelet destruction
5. Blood reservoir

Question 20

What do macrophages do in the spleen?

Answer 20

Remove microorganisms from the blood

Question 21

What complete development of the blood? (2)

Answer 21

1. Monocytes

2. Lymphocytes

Question 22

What stores blood in the spleen? (2)

Answer 22

1. Pulp

2. Sinus

Question 23

Can a spleen be congenitally absent?

Answer 23

Yes

Question 24

Can a spleen be surgically removed?

Answer 24

Yes

Question 25

Can you live without your spleen?

Answer 25

Yes

Question 26

Why might we scan the spleen? (3)

Answer 26

1. If they complain of pain
2. Mono
   - enlarged spleen
3. Rupture/trauma
   - very sensitive

Question 27

What are some questions you should ask your patient? (3)

Answer 27

1. If they have had any surgery
   - if its been removed
2. If they have experienced any trauma
3. If they have been sick

Question 28

What is the best way to measure the spleen?

Answer 28

Eyeball it

Question 29

What do you compare the spleen to when eyeballing it?

Answer 29

The left kidney

Question 30

How long should the spleen be?

Answer 30

11-12cm

Question 31

What is still considered normal length for the spleen?

Answer 31

8-13cm

Question 32

What should the width of the spleen be?

Answer 32

Within 5cm

Question 33

What should the AP be for the spleen?

Answer 33

Within 7cm

Question 34

What is the size of the spleen dependant on? (3)

Answer 34

1. Gender
2. Age
3. Body height