Normal Anatomy

Question 1

what is the largest lymphatic organ in the body?

Answer 1

the spleen

Question 2

what is the spleen part of?

Answer 2

the immue system

Question 3

where does the spleen lie?

Answer 3

in the left hypochondrium with its axis along the shaft of the tenth rib

Question 4

the spleen is an __ organ

Answer 4

intraperitoneal

Question 5

the spleen is covered entirely with

Answer 5

peritoneum except for a small area at its hilum, where the vascular structures and lymph nodes are locted

Question 6

protective capsule covers

Answer 6

the spleen with peritoneum

Question 7

reticuloendothelial system

Answer 7

immune system

Question 8

what is the main function of the spleen is?

Answer 8

to filter peripheral blood

Question 9

active in blood formation (hematopoiesis)

Answer 9

during the initial part of fetal life

Question 10

the spleen plays an important role in the body’s

Answer 10

defense against disease

Question 11

hematopoiesis

Answer 11

the formation of blood

Question 12

the spleen is often affected by

Answer 12

systemic disease processes

Question 13

the spleen is rarely the

Answer 13

primary site of disease

Question 14

Variable size and shape of the spleen

Answer 14

-tetrahedral or triangular
- generally considered to be ovoid with smooth, even borders

Question 15

the spleen is measured on a

Answer 15

longitudinal image from the upper margin (newer the diaphragm) to the inferior margin at the long axis

Question 16

the spleen is usually measured along its

Answer 16

long axis

Question 17

in length how much does the spleen measure?

Answer 17

8 to 12 cm

Question 18

in the anteroposterior diameter the spleen measures

Answer 18

7 cm

Question 19

in thickness the spleen measures

Answer 19

less than 5 cm

Question 20

the spleen is usually longer than the

Answer 20

kidney

Question 21

when is splenomegaly diagnosed?

Answer 21

when the spleen measures more than 13 cm in the adult patient or more than the normal length in a child

Question 22

the splenic parenchyma should have

Answer 22

a fine uniform homogeneous mid-to low-level echo pattern, as is seen within the liver parenchyma

Question 23

the texture of the spleen is more

Answer 23

echogenic than the liver

Question 24

as the spleen enlarges, the

Answer 24

echogenicity increased further

Question 25

laboratory data of the spleen

Answer 25

- hematocrit - bacteremia - thrombocytopenia - leukocytosis - leukopenia

Question 26

hematocrit

Answer 26

indicates the percentage of red blood per volume of blood

Question 27

bacteremia

Answer 27

indicates the presence of bacteria in the body

Question 28

thrombocytopenia

Answer 28

abnormal decrease in platelets. may be a result of internal hemorrhage

Question 29

leukocytosis

Answer 29

the increase in the number of white blood cell (leukocytes) present in the blood

Question 30

leukopenia

Answer 30

abnormal decrease in white blood cells

Question 31

the spleen lies between

Answer 31

the left hemidiaphragm and stomach

Question 32

the medial surface is related to

Answer 32

the stomach and lesser sac

Question 33

the fundus of the stomach may contain

Answer 33

gas or fluid, which may cause confusion in the LUQ when trying to demonstrate the spleen

Question 34

the tail of the pancreas

Answer 34

lies posterior to the stomach and lesser sac as it approaches the hilum of the spleen and splenic vessels

Question 35

the left kidney lies

Answer 35

inferior and medial to the spleen

Question 36

patient position and technique

Answer 36

-LUQ - steep decubitus - drop down bed allows better access to LUQ - alter respiration

Question 37

ligaments of the spleen

Answer 37

- splenorenal ligament - gastrosplenic ligament

Question 38

splenorenal ligament

Answer 38

extends between the hilum of the spleen and the anterior aspect of the left kidney

Question 39

gastrosplenic ligament

Answer 39

a double layer of peritoneum that connects the fundus of the stomach to the hilum of the spleen

Question 40

autosplenectomy

Answer 40

no visualization of the spleen, atrophy of the spleen may be found in normal individuals

Question 41

advanced atrophy is sometimes referred as

Answer 41

autosplenectomy

Question 42

severe anemia disease and wasting disease

Answer 42

involuntary loss of more then 10% of body weight (especially muscle mass) are most likely the cause for autosplenoectomy

Question 43

in the final stages of atrophy,

Answer 43

the spleen may be so small that it is hardly recognizable

Question 44

physiology of the spleen

Answer 44

- capsule -hilum -venous sinuses -white pulp -red pulp -removes old RBC from circulation

Question 45

capsule

Answer 45

of connective tissue

Question 46

hilum

Answer 46

entrance for blood vessels and nerves

Question 47

venous sinuses

Answer 47

contain complex channels through which blood circulation

Question 48

white pulp

Answer 48

packed with lymphocytes

Question 49

red pulp

Answer 49

packed with erythrocytes

Question 50

red pulp is made up of

Answer 50

blood-filled cavities venous sinuses and splenic cords

Question 51

the red pulp acts as a

Answer 51

filter and storage reservoir for the blood

Question 52

the white pulp of the spleen participates in the immune system by

Answer 52

productions the lymphocytes

Question 53

the white pulp comprises lymph related nodules called

Answer 53

Malpighian corpuscles

Question 54

white pulp contains

Answer 54

b and t cells (lymphocytes, WBCs)

Question 55

splenic artery

Answer 55

provides oxygenated blood to the spleen

Question 56

on entering the splenic hilum

Answer 56

the splenic artery immediately branches into 6 smaller arteries to supply the organ with oxygenated blood to profuse the splenic parenchyma

Question 57

splenic arterties are

Answer 57

subject to infarction

Question 58

splenic vein is formed by

Answer 58

multiple branches in the spleen

Question 59

splenic vein leaves

Answer 59

the hilum in a horizontal direction to join the superior mesenteric vein

Question 60

superior mesenteric veins returns

Answer 60

unoxygebated blood from the bowel to form the main portal vein

Question 61

splenic vein travels

Answer 61

along the posteriormedial border of the pancreas

Question 62

accessory spleen is the

Answer 62

most common congenital anomaly

Question 63

accessory spleen may be found

Answer 63

in up to 30% of patients

Question 64

sonographic apperance of accessory spleen

Answer 64

- appears as a homogeneous (nodule) pattern like that of the spleen - usually found near the hilum or inferior border of the spleen

Question 65

splenic agenesis or asplenia

Answer 65

is the complete absence of the spleen

Question 66

polysplenia

Answer 66

is a cogential disease manifested by multiple small accessory spleens, rather than a single, full-sized, normal spleen

Question 67

wandering spleen

Answer 67

is a rare medical disease caused by the loss or weakening of the ligaments that help to hold the spleen stationary