SPLEEN Flashcards
The spleen is a..
Intraperitoneal lymphoid organ
The spleen is apart of _____
reticuloendothelial system
The spleen is ____ ______ to life
NOT essential
Location of the spleen..
Lies in left hypochondrium- LUQ
The spleen is _______ except for the hilium
Intraperitoneal
The spleen is ______ to body and fundus of the stomach
Posterolateral
The spleen is _____ to tail of pancreas
Posterolateral
The spleen is _____ to left colic flexure
Posterior
The LK is ____ and _____ to the spleen
Inferior and medial
The diaphragm is ______, ______, and ______ to the spleen
Anterior, lateral, and superior
Measuring the spleen
The splenic artery is a branch off the …
Celiac trunk/celiac axis/celiac artery
Branches of SA before reaching the spleen
- Pancreatic branches from initial portion of the splenic artery
- short gastric branches
Branches of the SA after reaching spleen
- 2-3 lobar arterial branches at splenic helium
- Each lobar artery can further branch into 2-4 lobular arterial branches
- Lobular arteries branch into smaller splenic arteries
The splenic vein exits the..
splenic hilum
The SV courses _____ to the pancreas
Posterior
The IMV drains into the..
Splenic vein
The SV joins the ______ to form the PSC
SMV
What is white pulp
Lymphatic tissue that surrounds small splenic arteries
What is red pulp
More vascular than white pulp; consists of splenic sinuses and splenic arteries
Functions of the spleen
Defense
Hematopoiesis
Red blood cell and platelet destruction
Blood reservoir
What is the defense function of the spleen
- Removes and destroys microorganisms by phagocytosis (red pulp)
- White pulp, lymphocytes and monocytes are continuously produced.
- They ingest and digest harmful pathogens that enter the bloodstream
What is the hematopoiesis function of the spleen
- Produces red and white blood cells in the fetus.
- In adults, production of RBC’s only if severely anemic.
What is the red blood cell and platelet destruction function of the spleen
- Worn-out and abnormal RBCs and platelets are taken out of the bloodstream by the spleen
- Blood passes through the red pulp and into splenic sinuses; acts as a filter
What is the blood reservoir function of the spleen
Stores RBCS
Sono appearance of normal spleen
- Homogeneous with medium gray echogenicity
- Iso- to hypoechoic compared with normal liver
- Smooth wall margins
Normal variants of the spleen
Accessory spleen
- In up to 10% of population
- Usually < 1cm
- Can be more than one
- Commonly occurs at splenic hilum
Asplenia
-rare; may be associated with congenital heart defect
Sonographic applications
Splenomegaly
Masses/Cancer
Trauma
Lab values for spleen
Hematocrit
Bacteremia
Leukocytosis
Leukopenia
Thromocytopenia
