Spleen Flashcards
What is the location of the spleen?
Left hypochondriac region / left upper quadrant
- behind stomach
- deep to ribs 9-11
- rests on left colic flexure
What are the 4 functions of the spleen?
- immunity
- lymphocyte proliferation
- surveillance and response - filters blood
- macrophages remove debris and foreign matter - reservoir
- blood, platelets, monocytes
- spleen can contract and release these into circulation when needed - recycles
- by-products of RBC breakdown (ie iron)
What is the innervation of the spleen?
SNS:
- abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves (T6-10): stimulates splenic contraction
PNS:
CNX Vagus
Visceral afferents (entering cord at T6-10)
What is the lymphatic drainage of the spleen?
- splenic lymph nodes in splenic hilum
- drain into pancreaticosplenic nodes (into celiac nodes, then into intestinal trunk)
What is the arterial supply and venous drainage of the spleen?
Arterial:
- splenic artery (largest branch of celiac trunk, courses along superior pancreatic border then divides into multiple splenic branches at splenic hilum)
Venous:
- splenic vein
- IMV enters splenic vein
- then splenic vein courses behind pancreas
- behind head of pancreas, SMV and splenic vein unite to form portal vein
What are the 2 major components of splenic histology?
- islands of white pulp in a sea of red pulp
White pulp:
- lymphocytes suspended on reticular fibres
- site of immune functions
Red pulp:
- erythrocytes and macrophages
- where senescent RBCs and blood-borne pathogens are destroyed
What are the 2 surfaces of the spleen?
Diaphragmatic:
- outer convex surface
Visceral:
- inner concave surface
- 4 impressions: for stomach, kidney, colon and pancreas
What are the peritoneal relationships of the spleen?
Intraperitoneal
2 peritoneal ligaments (containing splenic vessels)
- gastrosplenic (betweens stomach and hilum of spleen)
- splenorenal (between kidney and hilum of spleen)
