By BEDA OTI

The spleen serves important functions which are related to its

structural organization. In performing splenectomy, knowledge
of its position and close relations is vital. Give an account of
the anatomy of this organ under these subheadings:
a. Position (5 marks)
b. Relations (6 marks)
c. Microscopic organization (6 marks)
d. Developmental and congenital malformations (6 marks)
e. Effects of splenectomy (2 marks)
Give
a. Boundaries

b. Contents

c. Clinical relevance
 LEFT HYPOCHONDRIUM
 SUPRACOLIC COMPARTMENT
 INTRA PERITONEAL
 9TH TO 11TH RIB
 MIDAXILLARY LINE
 LONG AXIS ALONG THE 10TH RIB
 STOMACH BED
 TAIL OF PANCREAS
 STOMACH
 LEFT KIDNEY
 LEFT SUPRARENAL
 SPLENIC FLEXURE OF COLON
 THORACIC DIAPHRAGM
 PLEURA (COSTODIAPHRAGMATIC
RECESS)
 BASE OF LEFT LUNG
 THICK CAPSULE SENDING IN TRABECUALE (1)
 WHITE PULP CONSISTING OF LYMPHOCYTIC
NODULES (1)
 PERIARTERIAL SHEATH T (½)
 PERIPPHERAL PULP B (½)

  RED PULP CONSISTING OF SPLENIC CORD (1)

 OTHER FORMED ELEMENTS OF BLOOD (½)
 PHAGOCYTIC CELLS (½)

 SUPPORTED BY RETICULAR FIBRES NETWORK (1)

 (5-6) MESENCHYMAL MASSES (1)
 IN DORSAL MESOGASTRIUM (1)
 SHIFT OF MASSES WITH STOMACH ROTATION
(1)
 COALESCENCE OF THE MASSES (1)
 MALFORMATIONS (2)
 ACCESSORY SPLEEN
 ECTOPIC SPLEEN
 LOBULATED SPLEEN
 THROMBOCYTOSIS (1)
 INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO SOME
INFECTIONS AND INFESTATIONS (1)
 ABNORMAL RED BLOOD CELLS IN CIRCULATION
(1)
 UPPER THORACIC SPINAL CORD (½)
 SUPERIOR CERVICAL SYMPATHETIC GANGLION
(½)
 INTERNAL CAROTID PLEXUS (½)
 OPHTHALMIC ARTERY (½)
 SHORTCILIARY ARTERY (½)
 DILATOR PUPILLAE (½)
 ACCESSORY OCULOMOTOR
NUCLEUS (½) IN THE MID BRAIN (½)
 OCULOMOTOR NERVE (½)
 CILIARY GANGLION (½)
 SHORT CILIARY NERVES (½)
 CONSTRICTOR PUPILLAE (½)
 POSTERIOR EXTENSOR POLICIS LONGUS (1)
 ANTERIOR ABDUCTOR POLICIS LONGUS (1)
 ROOF – SUPERFICIAL FASCIA CONTAINING BRANCH
OF SUPERFICIAL RADIAL NERVE AND TRIBUTARIES
OF CEPHALIC VEINS (1)
 FLOOR – SCAPHOID AND STYLOID PROCESS OF
RADIUS (1)
 RADIAL ARTERY AND VENAE COMMITTANTES
(1)
 SITE OF INCREASED TENDERNESS IN SCAPHOID

FRACTURE

 RISK OF DAMAGE TO RADIAL NERVE IN MAKING

INCISIONS
 MEDIAL CONTINUATION OF THE DORSAL VENOUS
ARCH OF FOOT (½)
 ANTERIOR TO MEDIAL MALLEOLUS (½),
ANTEROMEDIAL (½) TO TIBIAL/LEG,
POSTEROMEDIAL TO THE KNEE (½), MEDIAL IN THE
THIGH (½). MOVING DIAGONALLY UP TO THE
SAPHENOUS (½) OPENING OF THE FASCIA LATA
 ANTERIOR CUTANEOUS VEIN OF
THIGH
 SUPERIOR EXTERNAL PUDENDAL
 DEEP EXTERNAL PUDENDAL
 SUPERFICIAL EPIGASTRIC
 SUPERFICAL CIRCUMFLEX ILIAC
 TO THE DEEP (1) AND SMALL
SAPHENOUS (PERFORATORS) (1)
 TRACHEA
 OESOPHAGUS
 LARYNX
 PHARYNX
 RECURRENT LARYNGEAL N.
 INFERIOR THYROID ARTERY
 EXTERNAL LARYNGEAL N