Anatomy study note · Abdomen

Spleen

The largest single mass of lymphoid tissue in the body, lying under the left diaphragm against the 9th, 10th and 11th ribs. It is not part of the gut.

Key points

• Ribs 9–11; long axis along the 10th rib.
• Normal spleen not palpable; enlarges down and medially (notch felt).
• Gastrosplenic + splenorenal ligaments.
• Splenic artery = largest coeliac branch.
• Spleen: mesenchyme of the dorsal mesogastrium.
• Gastrosplenic + lienorenal ligaments.
• White pulp: nodules (B) + PALS (T). Red pulp: sinusoids + cords.
• No cortex/medulla, no afferent lymphatics.

The full note in the atlas also covers

Relations · Features · Blood supply · Lymph drainage · Histology · Development · Clinical notes

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Written from

• Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions, 10th ed., ch. 7, PDF pp. 927–930
• Inderbir Singh’s Human Embryology, ch. 14, PDF pp. 196, 200–201, 207
• BRS Cell Biology & Histology, 7th ed., ch. 12, PDF pp. 226–228

More from the abdomen

• Stomach
• Superficial epigastric vessels
• Superior mesenteric artery
• Suprarenal gland
• Testicular vessels
• Testis
• Transverse colon
• Transversus abdominis
• Umbilical cord
• Ureter
• Vas deferens
• Abdominal aorta

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