Spleen Flashcards
1
Q
Purpose of spleen
A
- reservoir for blood
- major destruction site of old RBC’s
- hemoglobin turns into billirubin & goes to liver to help make bile
- pools platelets
- storage of iron
- erythropoesis
- immune response
2
Q
How are RBC’s destroyed in the spleen?
A
- removed (culling) & hemoglobin is recycled
- destruction of foreign particles/bacteria (pitting)
3
Q
Erythropoesis
A
production of RBCs
4
Q
Composed of specialized tissues
A
- white pulp: contains lymphatic tissues
- red pulp: removes foreign material from RBC
5
Q
Size of spleen
A
- 12-13cm length (sup to inf), 6-7cm width
- largest lymphatic organ
6
Q
What covers the spleen?
A
peritoneum, except at hilum
7
Q
Splenic anatomy
A
- in LUQ
- variable shape/size (consider pt size)
- longest at superior to inferior
8
Q
Where does the splenic artery enter the spleen?
A
at the hilum
9
Q
Where does the spleen drain?
A
splenic vein to portal confluence
10
Q
Where does the spleen sit?
A
sits right up next to diaphragm on the left (hemidiaphragm)
11
Q
Shape of spleen
A
- longer than it is wide
- convex (bowed out) lateral boarder
- caved inward on medial side where vessels go in & out (opening for peritoneum)
12
Q
Vasculature
A
- hypoechoic vasculature medially at the hilum
- no vasculature w/in spleen w/out color Doppler
- should be homogenous (similar to kidney)
13
Q
Splenules
A
extra appendages on the spleen
14
Q
Atrophy
A
- can occur due to chronic hemolytic anemias (sickle cell), increased fibrosis, scarring from multiple infarcts
- advanced atrophy = autosplenectomy
15
Q
Asplenia
A
congenital absence of spleen
