Spleen Flashcards
(43 cards)
Where is the spleen located in the body
In the left hypochondrium
Convex surface resting on diaphragm
visceral surface in contact with the stomach and left kidney
Normal weight of the spleen
150 g to 250 g
What is the length of the spleen
5 cm to 13 cm
What is an accessory spleen
Small nodule of splenic tissue found apart from the main body of the spleen
Percentage of population with accessory spleen
10%
When is the spleen palpable
When size over 14 cm
From where does the blood enter spleen
From the splenic artery which divides into the trabecular arteries and give rise to Central arterioles
Why is arterioles ends in the spleen unique
Because they form cords which lack endothelial lining which creates an open blood system with lose reticular connective tissue network lined by fibroblasts and macrophages
How is blood drawn from the spleen
Enters venous sinuses which goes into splenic vein and get back to general circulation
Percentage of red pulp in spleen
75%
What forms the red pulp
The cords and sinuses
What is the function of the Red pulp
Monitoring integrity of red blood cells
What is the white pulp
Lymphatic tissue surrounding central arterioles
What is the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath
It’s a Sheath that is found around the central material which contains T cells
Immune cells found in the white pulp
B cells
Which zones are rich in macrophages and dendritic cells
The marginal and the perifollicular zones
How fast is rapid blood circulation in the spleen
1 or 2 minutes
How slow is slow blood circulation through the spleen
30 to 60 minutes
Major functions of the spleen
Filtration of red cells
Quality control of red cells
Capture and destruction of blood-borne pathogens
Generation of adaptive immune responses
Should you worry if there’s enlarged spleen
Yes
Where do you feel “regular” splenomegaly
Under left costal margin
How far can you expect a massive splenomegaly to be felt
As far as the right iliac fossa
Hematological causes of splenomegaly
Chronic myeloid leukemia Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Acute leukemia Malignant lymphoma Primary myelofibrosis Polycythemia vera Hairy cell leukemia Thalassemia major or intermedia Sickle cell disease Hemolytic anemia’s Megaloblastic anemia
Causes of splenomegaly in portal hypertension
Cirrhosis
Hepatic or portal or splenic vein thrombosis