Pancreas and spleen Flashcards
What type of organs are the spleen and pancreas classified as?
Visceral organs in the foregut
What is the prenatal function of the spleen?
Hematopoietic organ making fetal blood cells
What are the main postnatal functions of the spleen?
- Lymphocyte proliferation
- Recycling center for damaged red blood cells and platelets
- Blood reservoir
What shape is the spleen?
Oval
Where is the spleen located in the abdomen?
Left upper quadrant
What type of peritoneal organ is the spleen?
Intraperitoneal
What is the splenic hilum?
The area where vasculature enters and exits the spleen
What are the two surfaces of the spleen?
- Diaphragmatic surface
- Visceral surface
What structures lie posterior to the spleen?
- Left diaphragm
- 9th to 11th ribs
What ligament connects the spleen to the stomach?
Gastrosplenic ligament
What ligament connects the spleen to the left kidney?
Splenorenal ligament
What artery supplies blood to the spleen?
Splenic artery
From where does the splenic artery originate?
Celiac trunk
What vein drains blood from the spleen?
Splenic vein
What is the pathway of venous blood from the spleen?
Splenic vein → Receives inferior mesenteric vein → Joins superior mesenteric vein → Forms hepatic portal vein
What provides lymphatic drainage from the spleen?
Splenic lymph nodes
What plexus provides innervation to the spleen?
Celiac plexus
What type of organ is the pancreas classified as?
Retroperitoneal organ (except for the tail)
What are the two main functions of the pancreas?
- Exocrine gland secreting pancreatic juices
- Endocrine gland secreting insulin and glucagon
How many parts is the pancreas divided into?
Five parts
What are the five parts of the pancreas?
- Head
- Uncinate process
- Neck
- Body
- Tail
What is the main duct that carries digestive juices from the pancreas?
Main pancreatic duct
What does the main pancreatic duct unite with?
Bile duct
What is the hepatopancreatic ampulla also known as?
Ampulla of Vater
Where does the hepatopancreatic ampulla enter?
Descending part of the duodenum
What controls the flow of pancreatic juice and bile into the duodenum?
Sphincter of Oddi
What branches supply blood to the pancreas?
- Pancreatic branches of the splenic artery
- Anterior and posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries
- Anterior and posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries
What veins drain blood from the pancreas?
Pancreatic veins
What lymph nodes collect lymph from the pancreas?
- Pancreaticosplenic lymph nodes
- Pyloric lymph nodes
What nerves provide sympathetic innervation to the pancreas?
Greater and lesser splanchnic nerves
What nerves provide parasympathetic innervation to the pancreas?
Vagus nerves
The spleen is primarily responsible for _______.
[red blood cell and platelet filtration]
The pancreas secretes insulin and glucagon to regulate _______.
[blood sugar metabolism]
