SPLEEN

Question 1

The spleen is a..

Answer 1

Intraperitoneal lymphoid organ

Question 2

The spleen is apart of _____

Answer 2

reticuloendothelial system

Question 3

The spleen is ____ ______ to life

Answer 3

NOT essential

Question 4

Location of the spleen..

Answer 4

Lies in left hypochondrium- LUQ

Question 5

The spleen is _______ except for the hilium

Answer 5

Intraperitoneal

Question 6

The spleen is ______ to body and fundus of the stomach

Answer 6

Posterolateral

Question 7

The spleen is _____ to tail of pancreas

Answer 7

Posterolateral

Question 8

The spleen is _____ to left colic flexure

Answer 8

Posterior

Question 9

The LK is ____ and _____ to the spleen

Answer 9

Inferior and medial

Question 10

The diaphragm is ______, ______, and ______ to the spleen

Answer 10

Anterior, lateral, and superior

Question 11

Measuring the spleen

Question 12

The splenic artery is a branch off the …

Answer 12

Celiac trunk/celiac axis/celiac artery

Question 13

Branches of SA before reaching the spleen

Answer 13

• Pancreatic branches from initial portion of the splenic artery
• short gastric branches

Question 14

Branches of the SA after reaching spleen

Answer 14

• 2-3 lobar arterial branches at splenic helium
• Each lobar artery can further branch into 2-4 lobular arterial branches
• Lobular arteries branch into smaller splenic arteries

Question 15

The splenic vein exits the..

Answer 15

splenic hilum

Question 16

The SV courses _____ to the pancreas

Answer 16

Posterior

Question 17

The IMV drains into the..

Answer 17

Splenic vein

Question 18

The SV joins the ______ to form the PSC

Answer 18

SMV

Question 19

What is white pulp

Answer 19

Lymphatic tissue that surrounds small splenic arteries

Question 20

What is red pulp

Answer 20

More vascular than white pulp; consists of splenic sinuses and splenic arteries

Question 21

Functions of the spleen

Answer 21

Defense
Hematopoiesis
Red blood cell and platelet destruction
Blood reservoir

Question 22

What is the defense function of the spleen

Answer 22

• Removes and destroys microorganisms by phagocytosis (red pulp)
• White pulp, lymphocytes and monocytes are continuously produced.
• They ingest and digest harmful pathogens that enter the bloodstream

Question 23

What is the hematopoiesis function of the spleen

Answer 23

• Produces red and white blood cells in the fetus.
• In adults, production of RBC’s only if severely anemic.

Question 24

What is the red blood cell and platelet destruction function of the spleen

Answer 24

• Worn-out and abnormal RBCs and platelets are taken out of the bloodstream by the spleen
• Blood passes through the red pulp and into splenic sinuses; acts as a filter

Question 25

What is the blood reservoir function of the spleen

Answer 25

Stores RBCS

Question 26

Sono appearance of normal spleen

Answer 26

- Homogeneous with medium gray echogenicity - Iso- to hypoechoic compared with normal liver - Smooth wall margins

Question 27

Normal variants of the spleen

Answer 27

Accessory spleen - In up to 10% of population - Usually < 1cm - Can be more than one - Commonly occurs at splenic hilum Asplenia -rare; may be associated with congenital heart defect

Question 28

Sonographic applications

Answer 28

Splenomegaly Masses/Cancer Trauma

Question 29

Lab values for spleen

Answer 29

Hematocrit Bacteremia Leukocytosis Leukopenia Thromocytopenia