SPLEEN
- Is the largest secondary (immune response) lymphoid organ.
- Intraperitoneal organ except the hilium.
- Located in the left hypochondrium in the area between the 9th and 11th rib.
* In healthy human, the spleen is not palable during physical examination.
Supporting ligamints:
- Gastrosplenic Ligaments: - connects the spleen to the greater curvature of the stomach. - Contains short gastric & gastro-omental arteries.
- spleen Lienorenal / Splenorenal lig: - " the spleen & L. kidney - Contains the splenic artery & vein
- Spleinocolic ligament: between the spleen & transverse colon.
External structure:
- 1 Posterior extremity (extremitas posterior) – the dorsal end of the spleen
- 2 Anterior extremity (extremitas anterior) – the ventral end of the spleen
- 3 Superior border (margo superior) – the upper front sharp margin
- 4 Inferior border (margo inferior) – the lower back more obtuse margin
- 5 Splenic hilum (hilum splenicum) – the entry point for the splenic vessels and nerves
- 6 Diaphragmatic surface (facies diaphragmatica) – the dorsocranial surface adjacent to the diaphragm
- 7 Visceral surface (facies visceralis) – the ventral surface in contact with the stomach, left kidney, pancreas and left colic flexure (splenic flexure)
- 8 Splenic recess of omental bursa (recessus splenicus bursae omentalis)