WEEK 7 SPLEEN FINISHED Flashcards
Describe the spleen?
A large red ovoid structure that is soft and highly vascular.> it is mobile.
It is also the largest of the lymphatic organs
What are the dimensions of the spleen? Roughly the size of what?
12cm long, 7cm wide, 3cm thick.
Roughly the size of a clenched fist
What is the weight of the spleen
100-250gm
Where is the spleen found?
In the left hypochondriac space, deep to ribs 9-11.
The spleen has impressions on its inner concave surface for which organs?
The stomach, kidney, splenic flexure and the tail of the pancreas.
What is the spleen enclosed by? Is it completely enclosed by visceral peritoneum?
A thin fibrous capsule which extends into the interior to form a supportive framework.
Entirely surrounded by visceral peritoneum except the hilum
What is the spleen bounded by anteriorly, posteriorly, inferiorly and medially?
Anteriorly: the stomach (connected to greater curvature by gastrosplenic ligament)
Posteriorly: The left aspect of the diaphragm (connected via the gastrophrenic ligament)
Inferiorly: The left colic flexure
Medially: The left kidney (connected by the splenorenal ligament)
What ligaments attach to the hilum of the spleen and what do they contain?
The gastrosplenic and splenorenal ligaments.
They contain the splenic vessels.
What are the 2 different types of pulp in the spleen? What are their purposes?
White Pulp and Red Pulp
White Pulp: lymphoid tissue, mostly lymphocytes and germinal centres for the production of lymphocytes
Red Pulp: Blood cells, destroys old erythrocytes
What are some of the functions of the spleen?
Not very well known
Defence: produces WBC in response to an infectious agent.
Contains lymphocytes in the newborn
Macrophages which remove microbes and other particular debris
Acts as a reservoir of storage site for blood and erythrocytes
Destruction and recycling of erythrocytes
Reservoir for platelets
What is the arterial supply of the spleen? In how many branches does its main artery enter the hilum
Splenic artery (largest branch of the celiac trunk)
Divides into approx 5 branches before entering the hilum
What is the venous drainage of the spleen? Where does it run and where does it drain?
Splenic vein. Runs posterior to the body and tail of the pancreas before uniting with the SMV posterior to the pancreas neck to form the portal vein. This carries blood to the hepatic portal vein.
What is the lymphatic drainage of the spleen?
Lymph nodes in the splenic hilum. These pass to pancreaticosplenic lymph nodes
What is the nerve supply to the spleen?
Sympathetics:
Abdominalpelvic splanchnic nerves via celiac ganglion. (approx T6-T10)
Parasympathetic:
Vagus nerve
