Spleen Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

In which quadrant is the spleen located?

Right upper quadrant

Right lower quadrant

Left upper quadrant (correct)

Left lower quadrant

The spleen is located _____ to the kidney.

superior

The spleen is located _______ to the body of the stomach.

posterior

The spleen is an ___________ organ.

intraperitoneal organ Signup and view all the answers

The spleen is covered by peritoneum except for the?

hilum Signup and view all the answers

A normal spleen's long dimensions should not exceed ________.

13 cm Signup and view all the answers

In a longitudinal view, how do we measure the spleen?

length and width Signup and view all the answers

In transverse view what do we measure?

the depth of the spleen Signup and view all the answers

The spleen is a ______ vascular organ.

hyper Signup and view all the answers

What artery feeds the spleen?

splenic artery Signup and view all the answers

The splenic artery divides the spleen into many _______ sections at the hilum.

lobar Signup and view all the answers

What vein drains the spleen?

splenic vein Signup and view all the answers

The spleen is made of and pulp.

red and white Signup and view all the answers

The spleen is part of the reticuloendothelial system, which means it removes:

old cells, debris, pathogens, or foreign substances from blood. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four major functions of the spleen?

Defense (macrophage), Hematopoiesis, red blood cell and platelet destroyer, and blood reservoir. Signup and view all the answers

The spleen helps to aid in destruction and removal of microorganisms by means of?

phagocytosis Signup and view all the answers

White pulp produces what?

lymphocytes and monocytes Signup and view all the answers

What do the lymphocytes and monocytes from the white pulp help with?

to ingest and digest harmful pathogens. Signup and view all the answers

What type of cells produce antibodies to fight pathogens?

plasma cells Signup and view all the answers

The spleen goes through a process of hematopoiesis in which erythrocytes or ____________ are produced in a fetus.

red blood cells Signup and view all the answers

In adults, red blood cells are only produced in the spleen due to extreme _________.

anemia Signup and view all the answers

White blood cells or ____________ are made throughout a person's life in the spleen.

leukocytes Signup and view all the answers

In the spleen, pitting means:

pulling nuclei from cell Signup and view all the answers

In the spleen, culling means:

removal of bad red blood cells Signup and view all the answers

Iron is removed and used or transported to the liver via the?

portal vein Signup and view all the answers

Why is the spleen able to store red blood cells?

because of its smooth muscle content Signup and view all the answers

Red pulp in the spleen holds a larger volume of blood in the _________ sinuses.

venous Signup and view all the answers

What happens if the system is storing excessive amounts of blood?

The spleen may become enlarged - splenomegaly. Signup and view all the answers

The spleen should appear_________(texture).

homogenous Signup and view all the answers

The spleen is isoechoic compared to the _________.

liver Signup and view all the answers

What is the easiest way to scan the spleen?

in coronal approach Signup and view all the answers

If you are scanning in a coronal approach, the patient is in a _______ position.

decub Signup and view all the answers

What is identified as a circle of splenic tissue found at the hilum?

accessory spleen Signup and view all the answers

An accessory spleen may have multiple ______.

islands Signup and view all the answers

A person born without a spleen:

asplenia Signup and view all the answers

Another word for enlarged spleen:

splenomegaly Signup and view all the answers

What do we call an absence or weakness of one or more of the ligaments that holds the spleen in a normal position?

wandering spleen Signup and view all the answers

What do we call an abnormal decrease in platelets circulating in blood?

thrombocytopenia Signup and view all the answers

What transducer do you use for a spleen exam?

4-6 Mhz curved Signup and view all the answers

The spleen is made up primarily of __________ tissue.

lymphatic Signup and view all the answers

Is the spleen an essential organ?

False Signup and view all the answers

________ superior surface.

convex Signup and view all the answers

________ inferior surface.

concave Signup and view all the answers

The shape of the spleen can be referred to as:

crescent moon shape Signup and view all the answers

Spleen produces:

lymphocytes, monocytes, plasma cells, and antibodies Signup and view all the answers

The spleen stores what?

iron Signup and view all the answers

The spleen acts as a ________ reservoir.

blood Signup and view all the answers

What cells are activated each time the pathogen is recognized?

memory cells Signup and view all the answers

______ blood cells are filtered in the spleen.

red Signup and view all the answers

The ______ can quickly release the blood storage into the circulatory system.

sinuses Signup and view all the answers

Sono appearance of the spleen:

homogenous, medium gray or medium echotexture Signup and view all the answers

Spleen may be difficult to see due to:

ribs and gas from overlying bowel Signup and view all the answers

Lacerated spleens are pretty common; how does this splenic damage occur?

blunt trauma Signup and view all the answers

What percent of the population has an accessory spleen?

10% Signup and view all the answers

What is associated with asplenia (no spleen)?

congenital heart defects and liver may be prominent if no spleen Signup and view all the answers

Hematocrit:

% of red blood cells per blood volume Signup and view all the answers

Leukocytosis:

increase in white blood cells circulating Signup and view all the answers

Leukopenia:

decrease or low white blood cells circulating Signup and view all the answers

Thrombocytopenia:

abnormal decrease in platelets circulating in blood Signup and view all the answers

Erythrocyte:

red blood cell Signup and view all the answers

Hemoglobin:

oxygen-carrying and iron-containing pigment of red blood cells Signup and view all the answers

Largest axial measurement (anterior-posterior) should be no larger than:

8 cm Signup and view all the answers

The splenic artery arises from the _________ of the abdominal aorta and travels laterally towards the left to supply the spleen.

celiac axis Signup and view all the answers

Lobular arteries tend to become more _______ in older patients.

tortuous Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Spleen Anatomy and Physiology

The spleen is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen.
Positioned superior to the kidney and posterior to the body of the stomach.
Classified as an intraperitoneal organ with coverage by peritoneum except at the hilum.
Normal spleen size should not exceed 13 cm in length.
In longitudinal imaging, measure length and width, while depth is measured in transverse view.

Spleen Vascular and Structural Characteristics

The spleen is a hypervascular organ, receiving blood supply from the splenic artery.
The splenic artery divides the spleen into lobar sections at the hilum, while the splenic vein is responsible for drainage.
Composed of red pulp and white pulp, playing essential roles in immune function and blood filtration.

Functions of the Spleen

Major functions include defense (via macrophages), hematopoiesis, destruction of red blood cells and platelets, and serving as a blood reservoir.
Phagocytosis aids in the removal of microorganisms from circulation.
White pulp produces lymphocytes and monocytes essential for immune response.

Hematopoiesis and Blood Cell Dynamics

In a fetus, the spleen produces red blood cells; in adults, hematopoiesis primarily occurs only under conditions like severe anemia.
Leukocytes (white blood cells) are continuously produced in the spleen throughout life.
Pitting refers to the process of pulling nuclei from red blood cells, while culling is the removal of defective red blood cells.

Iron Metabolism and Storage

Iron recycled from red blood cells is transported to the liver via the portal vein.
The spleen's smooth muscle content allows it to store red blood cells, particularly during instances of excess blood volume.
Splenomegaly indicates spleen enlargement due to excessive blood storage.

Imaging and Examination

A homogenous texture is typical for a healthy spleen, appearing isoechoic in relation to the liver.
Preferred scanning technique involves a coronal approach with the patient in a decubitus position for optimal visualization.

Anomalies and Conditions

Accessory spleens can form at the hilum, and asplenia refers to the absence of a spleen, which can correlate with congenital heart defects.
Splenomegaly describes an enlarged spleen, while wandering spleen refers to a displaced organ due to ligament weaknesses.
Common splenic injuries occur from blunt trauma.

Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in blood volume.
Leukocytosis refers to an increase in circulating white blood cells, while leukopenia indicates a decrease.
Thrombocytopenia denotes an abnormal drop in platelet count.

Key Terms

Erythrocyte: another term for red blood cell.
Hemoglobin: the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells.
The largest axial measurement of the spleen should not be greater than 8 cm.

Additional Spleen Characteristics

The splenic artery originates from the celiac axis of the abdominal aorta.
Lobular arteries tend to become more tortuous in older individuals, influencing spleen blood flow dynamics.

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Description

This quiz focuses on the anatomical and physiological aspects of the spleen. It covers its location relative to other organs and its classification as an intraperitoneal organ. Perfect for students studying human anatomy and physiology.