spleen Flashcards
(20 cards)
Where is the spleen located?
In the upper-left part of the abdomen, under the ribcage.
Is the spleen intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal?
Intraperitoneal.
What are the main surfaces of the spleen?
Diaphragmatic surface and visceral surface.
What organs are anterior to the spleen?
Stomach.
What organ is posterior to the spleen?
Left diaphragm.
What is inferior to the spleen?
Left colic flexure.
What is medial to the spleen?
Left kidney.
What is the average size of an adult spleen?
Approximately 1 inch thick, 3 inches wide, and 5 inches long.
What is the average weight of an adult spleen?
About 7 ounces.
What are the two types of pulp in the spleen?
White pulp and red pulp.
What is the function of white pulp?
Involved in immune response and antibody production.
What is the function of red pulp?
Filters blood, removes old or damaged red blood cells, and stores platelets.
What artery supplies blood to the spleen?
Splenic artery, a branch of the celiac trunk.
What vein drains blood from the spleen?
Splenic vein, which joins the superior mesenteric vein to form the hepatic portal vein.
What nerves innervate the spleen?
Sympathetic fibers from the celiac plexus.
What is one of the spleen’s main functions?
Defense and support of the immune system.
What does the spleen do with old red blood cells?
Destroys them.
Does the spleen act as a reservoir?
Yes, it stores blood and platelets.
Is the spleen a vital organ?
No, you can live without it, but it plays important roles in your body’s defense and blood maintenance.
