Spleen

SPLEEN
INTRODUCTION
• It is a haemo-lymph organ and belongs to reticulo-endothelial system.
• 2nd lymphoid organ
• Pleural cavity separates spleen and diaphragm from the rib.

FUNCTIONS
• Spleen forms parts of the reticuloendotelial system.
• Main function is hematopoiesis in fetal life and in adults

with reutilization of iron from hemoglobin of destroyed red
blood cells.
• Its has red and the white pulp, which are separated by
the marginal sinus.
•Red pulp composed sinuses, splenic cord and
marginal zone and main function to filter red
blood cells and reserve monocytes.
•White pulp is composed of malpighian

corpuscles and help in active immune response.
Development
Develops from
mesenchymal
cells in the dorsal
mesogastrium
during the fifth
week of gestation.
• Number of nodules develop which soon fuse to form a
lobulated spleen.
• Notching of superior border of adult spleen is evidence of its
multiple origin.
• These nodules which fail to fuse,form accessory spleens.
ACCESSORY SPLEENS/
SPLENUNCULI
• These may be found:-
• In derivatives of dorsal mesogastrium.
• In broad ligament of uterus.
• In the spermatic cord.
POSITION OF
SPLEEN
Lies between fundus of
stomach and diaphragm.
Lies in left
hypochondrium and
epigastrium.
Extends in between 9th to

11th ribs.
Axis of spleen is directed
downwards, forwards and
laterally.
Axis lies along the 10th rib.

MEASURMENTS OF SPLEEN
• Length-12 cm(5 inch)
• Breadth-7cm(3 inch)
• Thickness-3cm (1inch)
• Weight-150gm(7 oz)
• HARRIR’S DICTUM OF ODD NUMBERS ON
SPLEEN:1,3,5,7,9,11
• 1inches in thikness,3 inches in breadth,5 inches in length,7oz in
weight,9-11 ribs of left side against which spleen rest.
7cm
150 gr.
(80 -300 gr). 12 cm
3 – 4 cm
The
peritoneum
covering the
spleen, except in
the hilum.
EXTERNAL
FEATURES
• The spleen has :-
• Two ends
• Three borders
• Two surfaces
• Two angles
• Hilum
TWO
ENDS
The anterior or lateral end:-it is expanded or more like a border.it is
directed downwards ,forwards and reaches mid axillary line.
• The posterior or medial end:- it is rounded and directed upwards

backwards, medially,and rest on upper pole of left kidney.
TWO BORDERS
• Superior border :- presents one or two notches near anterior
end.
• Notches indicate spleen is lobulated in development.
• Inferior border:- it is
rounded
SURFACES:-TWO
SURFACES
• DIAPHRAGMATIC :- This surface is convex and smooth.
• IT IS RELATED TO:-
• A) Diaphragm
• B) Lt lung & lts pleura
• C) Costodiaphragmatic recess
• d) 9th, 10th & 11th ribs of left side.
• VISCERAL SURFACE:- It is concave and irregular.
• IT IS RELATED TO:-
• FUNDUS OF STOMACH
• ANTERIOR SURFACE OF LEFT KIDNEY
• THE SPLENIC FLEXURE OF COLON
• TAIL OF PANCREAS
IMPRESSIONS ON VISCERAL SURFACE
• Gastric impression
• Renal impression
• Colic impression
• Pancreatic impression (Tail)
ANGLES
• ANTEROBASAL
• POSTEROBASAL
CLINICAL ANGLE OF SPLEEN
• Anterior basal angle:
Junction of superior border with lateral end.
Lies in 9th intercostal space behind left mid-axillary line.
First palpable in splenomegaly.
• POSTEROBASAL ANGLE:-Lies at junction of inferior border with
lateral or anterior end of spleen.
Ligaments
• Gastro-splenic • Lieno-phrenic
• Lieno-renal • Phrenico-colic
LIGAMENTS
• A) Gastro-splenic: Connects fundus of stomach to anterior lip
of hilum of spleen
Contains short gastric & lt gastro-epiploic vessels.
• B) Lienorenal: Connects ant surface of lt kidney with posterior

lip of hilum of spleen
Contains tail of pancrease, splenic vessels & nerve.
LIGAMENTS
• Lieno-phrenic: Suspensory ligament of spleen
• Phrenico-colic: Sustentaculum lienis(supports the spleen from

below).
Peritoneal fold extending from lt colic flexure to
diaphragm
Blood Supply
• The tortuous splenic artery arises from the coeliac trunk
and runs along the upper border of the body and tail of
the pancreas, to which it gives small branches.
• The short gastric and left gastroepiploic branches pass
between the layers of the gastrosplenic ligament.
• The main splenic artery generally divides into superior
and inferior branches, which, in turn, subdivide into
several segmental branches.
VENOUS DRAINAGE
• Splenic Vein: Joins the superior mesenteric vein to

form the portal vein.
HISTOLOGY OF SPLEEN
It is covered by a capsule which sends trabeculae inside the

parenchyma.
The Capsule & Trabeculae contains myofibroblast
Splenic pulp – Comprises of White pulp & Red pulp
Circulation through Spleen
• Splenic artery branches
• Arterioles in
Trabeculae
• White pulp
• Penicilli
• Red pulp (Open)
• Peri Arterial lymphatic
sheath (PALS)
SPLEEN-WHITE PULP
• Rich in Lymphocytes
• Basophilic in H&E
• Lymphocytes cover the artery - Peri
Arterial Lymphatic Sheath (PALS)
• Cylindrical in shape, Contains T –
lymphocytes
• In cross section, appears like lymphatic
follicle
• But has central artery
• If lymphatic follicle present in PALS,
the artery is present eccentrically
• Large lymphatic follicle are called
Malphigian bodies – contains B lymphocytes
RED PULP
Sponge-like
Contains Splenic sinuses seperated
by Splenic cords of Billroth
Sinuses are venous sinuses with
discontinuous basement membrane
Splenic cords – Meshwork of
reticular fibres with RBC,
macrophages, Lymphocytes and
plasma cells
Macrophages - Phagocytosis of
damaged RBC
Splenic Circulation
NERVE SUPPLY
•It is predominentaly supplied by the sympathetics from
coeliac plexus.The fibers supply the blood vessels and
smooth muscle of trabeculae
CLINICAL IMPORTANCE
• Spleen is undercover of thoracic cage and is not palpable
• Splenomegaly : enlarged spleen due to cancer,

specifically blood-based leukemia.
• Asplenia : where the spleen is not present.
• Hyposplenia: reduce splenic functions..

SPLENECTOMY
• Spleen is particularly liable to rupture in falls and
automobile accidents and bleeding from it is difficult to
control and Splenectomy should be done.
• A splenectomy is a surgical procedure that partially or

completely removes the spleen.
THANK YOU !

Spleen

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SPLEEN

• 2nd lymphoid organ

• Pleural cavity separates spleen and diaphragm from the rib.

• Main function is hematopoiesis in fetal life and in adults

•White pulp is composed of malpighian

Extends in between 9th to

Axis lies along the 10th rib.

• The posterior or medial end:- it is rounded and directed upwards

• B) Lienorenal: Connects ant surface of lt kidney with posterior

• Phrenico-colic: Sustentaculum lienis(supports the spleen from

• Splenic Vein: Joins the superior mesenteric vein to

It is covered by a capsule which sends trabeculae inside the

• Splenomegaly : enlarged spleen due to cancer,

• Asplenia : where the spleen is not present.

• Hyposplenia: reduce splenic functions..

• A splenectomy is a surgical procedure that partially or

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