Spleen Flashcards

1
Q

where is the spleen located?

what covers it?

what ligaments? what do they attach?

which capsule is it in?

A

Lt. hypochondrium
Intraperitoneal

Peritoneum covering entire organ, except hilum
Peritoneal ligaments

Attach spleen to the stomach and kidney

True capsule

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2
Q

is the hilum in direct contact w/ the peritoneum?

A

No

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3
Q

what is the avg adult size of spleen in long and AP?

A

12-13 cm in long, 7-8cm in AP

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4
Q

describe the spleens shape and texture.

which surface in convex? concave?

A

Variable shape: Ovid, Triangular

Smooth surface

Convex superior surface
Concave inferior surface

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5
Q

What surface is this?

A

inferior. notice the hilum

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6
Q

where is the spleen in relation to the pancreas? stomach? kidney?

A

superior and lateral to the pancreas

lateral to the stomach

anterior and slighly superior to the kidney

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7
Q

what ligaments extend from the spleen?

A

gastrosplenic ligament

lienorenal ligament

phrenicocolic ligament

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8
Q

Why is the spleen subject to infarction?

A

because of lack of anastomoses between the intra-parenchymal vessels

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9
Q

describe the splenic artery

A

from Celiac Axis

tortuous vessel

travels horizontally along superior border of pancreas

divides and enters the spleen at its hilum

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10
Q

what does the splenic vein join and form?

A

joins superior mesenteric vein to form the portal vein at head of pancreas

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11
Q

describe teh splenic vein

A

forms in splenic hilum

travels medially toward pancreatic head

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12
Q

________ also exit the spleen at the hilum

A

Lymph vessels

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13
Q

what type of pulp does the spleen have?

A

white and red

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14
Q

what are the functions of the spleen (4) as an organ of the reticulendothelial system?

A

production of lymphocytes and plasma cells

production of antibodies

storage of iron

storage of other metabolites

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15
Q

what are the functions and characteristics of the spleen (6)?

A

maturation of the surface of erthrocytes

reservoir

culling (keeping #s when we need them, killing excess)

pitting function

disposal of senescent or abnormal erthrocytes

functions related to platelet and leukocyte life span

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16
Q

what is the funciton of the spleen in the fetus?

A

erythropoiesis - RBC production

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17
Q

Splenic Protocol

A


Longitudinal with measurements in longest axis and 90o to long axis

Transverse with measurement in this planes longest dimension

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18
Q

splenic sonographic appearance

what can make it hard to visualize?

A

homogenous texture, smooth surface, calcifcations no uncommon

lung, stomach, gas in colon

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19
Q

what type of calcification are not uncommon to find in the spleen? what are they and why do they become calcified?

A

Granulomas-spherical mass of immune cells that forms when the body attempts to wall off substances that it perceives as foreign but is unable to eliminate. The body then places calcium around it.

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20
Q

what landmarks are important to find when looking for the spleen? where should you look?

A

diaphragm and lt kidney

posterior and superior

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21
Q

what are the dimensions of this spleen?

is this normal?

A

long 10.25cm

AP 4.22 cm

a bit small perhaps

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22
Q

what plane was this image taken in?

A

transverse

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23
Q

which plane are each of these spleens in? how can you tell?

A

lt long, rt trans

look for the hilum.

(same below)

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24
Q

What is it called when the spleen is larger than normal?

A

splenemegaly

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25
Q

what is the absence of the spleen called?

is it congenital?

A

asplenia

yes

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26
Q

what is polyspelenia?

is it commmon?

what else can it be associated with?

what do you need to be careful not to mistake this for when ruling out this anomaly?

A

multiple spleens

rare

cardiac or broncopulmonary

the lt liver lobe

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27
Q

what is the congenital variant called?

A

wandering spleen (rt line pointing to the bladder)

color example below

28
Q

what is this an example of?

A

wandering spleen

29
Q

what is one or two little spleen close to the bain spleen alled?

what can they look like?

A

accessory spleen (splenials, satellite spleens…)

looks exactly like the spleen and should NOT be coming of the pancreas. can be mistaken for pancreatic tail mass

30
Q

which image has a pseudo-accessory spleen and which has a real accessory spleen?

A
31
Q

what is increased number of RBC’s called?

WBC’s?

A

polycythemia

leukocytosis

32
Q

what is a decreased number of RBC’s called?

WBC’s?

A

anemia

leukopenia

33
Q

what is the proportion of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells?

A

Hematocrit

34
Q

what indications are may be present to cause you to do a splenic exam?

A

palpable spleen, abnormal labs, LUQ pain, infectious disease (mono affects spleen - making it bigger as its functioning and working hard. have to keep looking at it w/ US b/c it can burst. goes down on its own)

35
Q

patient prep?

Td?

positions?

image?

compared to liver?

A

none

vector or curve

supline, RLD, upright

homogenous low to md level echoes.

*iso or slightly hyperechoic to live

36
Q

what must you be aware of when doing a splenic exam?

A

Watch out for left lobe of liver.

Some people will have their left liver lobe right adjacent to the spleen and it can easily be mistake for part of the spleen when you are first beginning to scan.

37
Q

what is the best acoustic window to image the spleen?

A

lt lateral intercostal approach

38
Q

is the spleen found in the retroperitoneum?

A

no

39
Q

the vascular supply feeding the spleen comes from ___. which arises from ____. this vessels characteristic feature is _____.

A

splenic artery, celiiac axis, torturous

40
Q

the venous drainage of the spleen is via ____. it drains blood into the _____ and joins _____.

A

splenic vein, liver, SMV

41
Q

what organ typically sits anterior to the splenic vein?

A

pancreas

42
Q

What confluence is made by the junction of the splenic v and superior mesenteric v?

A

portal confluence

43
Q

What specific anatomy sits directly anterior to this confluence?

A

pancreatic neck

44
Q

If a sonographer is looking for the spleen from a lt. lateral approach , and sees the lt. kidney on the screen what direction should the probe be moved?

A

move more superior

45
Q

What can the sonographer do to try and help visualize the tail of the pancreas if the anterior approach is blocked with gas and the pt. is unable to drink H20?

A

try lt lateral approach and use the spleen as an acoustic window

46
Q

In relationship to the pancreatic body/tail area, where would you look for the splenic artery?

A

superior to the pancreas

47
Q

What relationship does the lt. kidney have with the spleen, according to HA?

A

lt kidney is found along the medial surface of the spleen

48
Q

What relationship does the splenic flexure of the colon have with the spleen, according to HA?

A

splenic flexure is found along the medial surface of the spleen

49
Q

According to HA, what congenital variant results from an anomaly of the supporting ligaments of the spleen?

A

wandering spleen

50
Q

What symptomatology may a patient experience when they have a wandering spleen, according to HA?

A

abdominal mass, pelvic mass, intermittent pain

51
Q

What tool can the sonographer use to help evaluate the spleen when torsion is suspected; in a case of a wandering spleen?

A

color doppler to check perfusion of th espleen

52
Q

what is another term for an accessory spleen?

A

splenule

53
Q

Describe the sonographic appearance of a splenule.

A

round, smooth borders, homogenous and same echogenicity as the spleen

54
Q

What do both of these images have in common?

A

splenules

55
Q

These small clusters of tissue found within the normal spleen are what?

The area surrounding these clusters, making up the majority of the splenic tissue is known as what?

A

white pulp

red pulp

56
Q

where would you put calipers to measure in long?

A
57
Q

the following are functions of what system?

Production of lymphocytes
Production of antibodies
Storage of RBC’s

A

reticuloendothelial system.

58
Q

isthe spleen the largest organ of the reticuloendothelial system.?

A

yes

59
Q

Production of lymphocytes is handled by what specific portion of the splenic parenchyma?

A

white pulp

60
Q

Ability to digest cellular debris is handle by what specific portion of the splenic parenchyma?

A

red pulp

61
Q

Production of antibodies is handled by what specific portion of the splenic parenchyma?

A

white pulp

62
Q

The spleen has the ability to remove old, worn out ___

A

RBC’s

63
Q

Splenomegaly is an enlarged spleen. All of the following are causes of splenomegaly except.

A. Sequestering too many RBC’s
B. A systemic infection, such as mononucleosis
C. Renal failure
D. Portal hypertension; when PV blood can’t freely enter the liver 2o to liver disease

A

C

64
Q

The process of destroying RBC’s which are abnormal or old is called _____.

A

culling

65
Q

The process of fixing/removing imperfection from RBC’s without destroying them is called _____.

A

pitting

66
Q

The spleen is of concern whenever the abdomen in involve in blunt force trauma. Why is this of concern?

A

spleen serves as a reservoir for blood therefore it can lose a lot of blood quickly if it sustains a laceration or rupture

67
Q

US is sometimes called upon to inspect the spleen after a blunt force trauma. What type of splenic injury would the sonographer be looking for?

A

splenic laceration or rupture aka splenic fracture