Anatomy

1. Anatomy of spleen
Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud Mosaed

2. Spleen
• The spleen is reddish in color
• It is the largest lymphatic
organ in the body.
• Site Spleen is located in left
upper part of abdomen (left
hypochondrium) just
beneath the left half of the
diaphragm

3. Surface anatomy of the spleen
• The long axis of spleen lies along
the shaft of the 10th rib, vertically
it is situated between the upper
border of the 9th and the lower
border of the 11th ribs.
• The highest point (upper
extremity) is at the level of the tip
of the ninth thoracic spine and
the lowest point (lower extremity)
is in the midaxillary line at the
level of the first lumbar spine.
9th
10th
11th

4. spleen
spleen

5. Coverings and ligaments of Spleen
The spleen is covered by fibroelastic
capsule and is surrounded by
peritoneum except at the splenic hilum
Ligaments of spleen:
1. gastrosplenic omentum (ligament)
The spleen is surrounded by
peritoneum, which passes from it at the
hilum to the greater curvature of the
stomach (carrying the short gastric and
left gastroepiploic vessels).
2. Splenicorenal (leinorenal) ligament It
is the fold of peritoneum that connects
spleen to the left kidney. (carrying the
splenic vessels and the tail of the
pancreas).

7. Anatomical description of spleen
• The spleen have:
• 2 borders: Superior
and inferior
• 2 surfaces:
diaphragmatic and
visceral
• 2 poles: posterior
(medial) and anterior
(lateral)

8. Borders of spleen
• Superior border is notched
• Inferior border is smooth
• Posterior extremity or pole
is the uppermost extremity
• Anterior extremity is the
lower pole of spleen

9. Diaphragmatic surface of the spleen
• Diaphragmatic surface is the posterolateral
surface of spleen and is related to the
diaphragm, left pleura, left lung and 9th , 10th ,
and 11th ribs
spleen

10. Visceral surface of the spleen
• Visceral surface is related to viscera
of the abdomen so the name visceral
• The visceral surface related to: The
stomach, tail of the pancreas, and
left colic flexure. The left kidney
• The gastric impression below the superior
border
• The renal impression above the inferior
border
• The colic impression related to the lower
extremity
• The pancreatic impression related to the
hilum

13. Hilum of the spleen
• The hilum is the part on the visceral surface of
the spleen, giving passage to the splenic
vessels and nerves.

14. Blood Supply of the spleen
• Arteries
• The large splenic artery is the largest branch of the celiac artery.
• It has a tortuous course as it runs along the upper border of the pancreas. The splenic
artery then divides into about six branches, which enter the spleen at the hilum.
• Veins
• The splenic vein leaves the hilum and runs behind the tail and the body of the pancreas.
Behind the neck of the pancreas, the splenic vein joins the superior mesenteric vein to
form the portal vein.

16. Lymph Drainage and nerve Supply of spleen
• Lymph Drainage
• The lymph vessels emerge from the hilum and
pass through a few lymph nodes along the course
of the splenic artery and then drain into the
celiac nodes.
• Nerve Supply
• The nerves accompany the splenic artery and are
derived from the celiac plexus.

17. Development of the Spleen
• The spleen develops as a thickening of the
mesenchyme in the dorsal mesentery.
• In the earliest stages, the spleen consists of a
number of mesenchymal masses that later fuse.
• The notches along its anterior border are
permanent and indicate that the mesenchymal
masses never completely fuse.

18. CLINICAL NOTES
• SPLENIC ENLARGEMENT
• As the enlarged spleen projects below the
left costal margin, its notched anterior
border can be recognized by palpation
through the anterior abdominal wall.
• An enlarged spleen, usually caused by viral
mononucleosis (“mono”), liver disease,
blood cancers (lymphoma and leukemia),
• 2. RUPTURE OF SPLEEN
• Although anatomically the spleen gives the
appearance of being well protected,
automobile accidents of the crushing or
run-over type commonly produce
laceration of the spleen.
• Penetrating wounds of the lower left
thorax can also damage the spleen.