Part 8: Spleen

Question 1

Is the spleen part of alimentary canal?

Answer 1

No, largest of the lymphoid organs

Question 2

What is the 1,3,5,7,9,11 rule?

Answer 2

Dimensions 1x3x5 inches
Weighs 7 oz
Lies between 9th and 11th ribs

Question 3

When does the spleen develop?

Answer 3

L leaf of dorsalmesogastrium around 6th week. Dorsal mesogastrium forms lienorenal and gastrosplenic ligaments

Question 4

What are the pedicles of the spleen?

Answer 4

Lienorenal and gastosplenic ligaments

Question 5

Where does the spleen lie?

Answer 5

9th to 11th rib L side, under diaphragm. Visceral peritoneal covering with gastric, diaphragmatic, colic and renal surfaces - at hilum comes into contact with greater omentum

Question 6

What is the blood supply of the spleen?

Answer 6

Splenic artery via lienorenal ligament - divides into branches to segments of spleen

Question 7

What is the venous drainage of the spleen?

Answer 7

Via splenic vein to portal vein

Question 8

What is the lymph drainage of spleen?

Answer 8

Follow splenic artery - several nodes at hilum, then via retropancreatico nodes drains to coeliac nodes

Question 9

What are accessory spleens and how often do they occur?

Answer 9

Spleen develops from multiple condensations of tissue aggregating into one organ - occasionally these condensations do not all aggregate together leaving accessory spleens.
Incidence about 1/10

Question 10

What does splenectomy involve?

Answer 10

Cutting lienorenal and gastrosplenic ligaments, ligating short gastric vessels