SPLEEN

BY: Dr.JAYAKRISHNAN HARISH KUMAR

INTRODUCTION
• The spleen is the largest organ of your lymphatic system, a subdivision
of the immune system.
• Its network of trabeculae, blood vessels and lymphoid tissue provides
an environment in which white blood cells (lymphocytes) proliferate
while old damaged red blood cells (erythrocytes) are recycled.
SPLEEN
LOCATION
• The spleen is found in the left hypochondriac region of the abdomen
(left upper quadrant).
• More precisely, the spleen is located posterior to the stomach and
anterior to the left hemidiaphragm at the level of ribs 9-10.
• Medial to the spleen is the left kidney; superior is the diaphragm,
while inferiorly it rests directly on the left colic flexure (splenic
flexure).
ANATOMY
• The spleen is a purple, fist-sized organ.
• It is wrapped by a fibroelastic capsule which allows the spleen to
significantly increase its size when necessary.
• The spleen is an intraperitoneal organ, so all of its surfaces are covered
with visceral peritoneum.
• Only the hilum of the spleen, the site through which the splenic artery and
vein pass, is peritoneum-free.
ANATOMY~ TWO SURFACES
• Diaphragmatic (lateral) surface leans onto the adjacent part of the
diaphragm, thus it is slightly convexed to perfectly fit into the concavity
of the left hemidiaphragm. This surface also shows impressions from ribs
9-11.
ANATOMY
SPLEEN
SPLEEN
SPLEEN
SPLEEN
ANATOMY~ TWO SURFACES
• Diaphragmatic (lateral) surface leans onto the adjacent part of the
diaphragm, thus it is slightly convexed to perfectly fit into the concavity
of the left hemidiaphragm. This surface also shows impressions from ribs
9-11.
• Medial surface of the spleen shows three areas of impression. The colic
area is the impression of the left colic flexure, the gastric area is the
impression of the stomach, and the renal area is the impression of the left
kidney. The splenic hilum is found in the central part of this surface.
ANATOMY~ THREE BORDERS

The spleen has three borders (superior, inferior, and anterior) as well as
two extremities (anterior and posterior).
• The superior border bounds the gastric area
• The inferior border bounds the renal area
• The anterior border bounds the colic area.
 SPLENIC LIGAMENTS
Three ligaments originating from the surrounding structures attach to the
spleen. Two of these ligaments connect to the splenic hilum and are traversed
by the transmitted splenic vessels.
• The gastrosplenic ligament connects the hilum with the greater curvature
of the stomach. It contains the short gastric vessels and left gastroomental
(gastroepiploic) arteries and veins.
• The splenorenal ligament connects the hilum of the spleen with the left
kidney. It transmits the splenic artery and vein.
• Lastly, the spleen sits on the phrenicocolic ligament which originates from
the colon.
BLOOD SUPPLY
The arterial supply of the spleen comes from the tortuous splenic
artery, which reaches the spleen as it travels through the splenorenal
ligament. This artery emerges from the celiac trunk, which is a branch
of the abdominal aorta.
VENOUS DRAINAGE
The venous drainage of the spleen occurs via the splenic vein.
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE
The splenic lymph nodes lie at the hilum and receive lymph via
perivascular and subcapsular lymphatic vessels. It is then drained to the
superior pancreatic lymph node From there, it is drained to the celiac
lymph nodes.
 FUNCTION
• The spleen is a secondary lymphoid organ. This means that the spleen
filters blood and presents foreign particles (antigens) to the lymphocytes
it houses. In this way, the spleen stimulates the maturation and
activation of lymphocytes.
• By filtering blood, the spleen also recycles senescent and
damaged erythrocytes.
• In healthy individuals, approximately one-third of total platelets
(thrombocytes) are stored in the spleen.
In health disturbances followed by spleen enlargement (splenomegaly), the
amount of platelets sequestrated in the spleen increases up to 90%,
resulting in thrombocytopenia (a low number of platelets in circulating
blood).
 CLINICS!
Splenectomy
Splenectomy is the surgical removal of the spleen either in its entirety or
partially. Despite its important function for the immune system, the spleen
is a non-vital organ. The reasons for removing the spleen include:
• extensive splenomegaly
• rupture of the spleen
• severe infection
• a wandering spleen
• certain blood disorders like sickle cell anemia and immune
thrombocytopenic purpura
People without a spleen are prone to infections and need additional
vaccinations and preventive antibiotics (if necessary) for the rest of their
lives.
CLINICS!
CLINICS!
 THANKS!
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