Connection lost. Please refresh the page.
Online
Get help How to study Login Register
Ready to learn?
Pick your favorite study tool

Spleen

Recommended video: Spleen [12:44]
Overview of the main structures of the spleen.

The spleen is the largest organ of your lymphatic system, a subdivision of the immune system. Its network of trabeculae, blood vessels and lymphoid tissue provides an environment in which white blood cells (lymphocytes) proliferate while old damaged red blood cells (erythrocytes) are recycled.

Although it may seem dispensable as it is possible to live without it, the spleen is constantly filtering the blood in order to detect the presence of microorganisms. If you find yourself in the emergency room, the spleen also holds a large reservoir of blood which can be pumped back into circulation if needed.

Key facts about the spleen
Definition An intraperitoneal lymphoid organ found on the left side of the abdomen inferior to the diaphragm.
Location Left hypochondriac region (left upper quadrant)
Structure Capsule, trabeculae, white pulp, red pulp
Function Immune surveillance, proliferation and maturation of lymphocytes, degradation of senescent and damaged erythrocytes
Neurovascular supply Artery: splenic artery
Vein: splenic vein
Lymph: celiac node
Innervation: celiac plexus
Clinical relations Splenectomy

This page will describe the anatomy of the spleen and its functions.

Contents
  1. Location
  2. Anatomy
    1. Splenic ligaments
  3. Microscopic anatomy
  4. Blood vessels
    1. Lymphatic drainage
  5. Innervation
  6. Function
  7. Clinical relations
    1. Splenectomy
  8. Sources
  9. Related articles
+ Show all

Location

To best depict the location of the spleen, we’ll describe its relations. The spleen is found in the left hypochondriac region of the abdomen (left upper quadrant). More precisely, the spleen is located posterior to the stomach and anterior to the left hemidiaphragm at the level of ribs 9-10. Medial to the spleen is the left kidney; superior is the diaphragm, while inferiorly it rests directly on the left colic flexure (splenic flexure).

Although the spleen can descend as far as the pubic symphysis, as seen in mantle cell lymphoma, it normally does not move beyond the left rib arch and so is unavailable for palpation in healthy individuals.

Anatomy

The spleen is a purple, fist-sized organ. It is wrapped by a fibroelastic capsule which allows the spleen to significantly increase its size when necessary. The spleen is an intraperitoneal organ, so all of its surfaces are covered with visceral peritoneum. Only the hilum of the spleen, the site through which the splenic artery and vein pass, is peritoneum-free. 

Organs near to the spleen leave their impressions on its surfaces which, together with spleen borders, can easily be observed and described. 

  • Diaphragmatic (lateral) surface leans onto the adjacent part of the diaphragm, thus it is slightly convexed to perfectly fit into the concavity of the left hemidiaphragm. This surface also shows impressions from ribs 9-11. 
  • Medial surface of the spleen shows three areas of impression. The colic area is the impression of the left colic flexure, the gastric area is the impression of the stomach, and the renal area is the impression of the left kidney. The splenic hilum is found in the central part of this surface.

The spleen has three borders (superior, inferior, and anterior) as well as two extremities (anterior and posterior). The superior border bounds the gastric area, the inferior border bounds the renal area and the anterior border bounds the colic area.

Splenic ligaments

Three ligaments originating from the surrounding structures attach to the spleen. Two of these ligaments connect to the splenic hilum and are traversed by the transmitted splenic vessels. The gastrosplenic ligament connects the hilum with the greater curvature of the stomach. It contains the short gastric vessels and left gastroomental (gastroepiploic) arteries and veins. The splenorenal ligament connects the hilum of the spleen with the left kidney. It transmits the splenic artery and vein. Lastly, the spleen sits on the phrenicocolic ligament which originates from the colon and is also known as the sustentaculum lienis.

For more details about the anatomy of the spleen, jump directly into our integrated quiz on the structure of the spleen:

Microscopic anatomy

Understanding the microscopic anatomy of the spleen is important for understanding its function. Numerous septa called trabeculae extend from the dense irregular fibroelastic connective tissue of the capsule into the parenchyma of the spleen. Both the capsule and trabeculae contain myoepithelial cells which have the ability to contract. As the spleen stores a significant amount of blood, the contraction of myoepithelial cells pumps stored blood into the circulatory system when the body is in need; for example during intense physical activity or massive hemorrhage.

The parenchyma of the spleen is called pulp. Based on the color of the pulp on fresh sections, white and red pulp can be distinguished. White pulp is the main lymphoid tissue of the spleen. It is the accumulation of lymphocytes around an arterial vessel. This aggregation of lymphocytes constitutes the lymphoid tissue known as periarterial lymphoidsheath (PALS) and it is the first to react if microbes reach the spleen through the bloodstream. The central arterial vessels in PALS nodules are branches of the splenic artery.Red pulp consists of splenic venous sinuses and cords (of Billroth), linings of splenic macrophages around the sinuses. The central artery of PALS continues from the white pulp and enters the red pulp as a capillary. These capillaries empty into the splenic cords, where macrophages phagocyte old and damaged erythrocytes. From there, blood diffuses into the splenic sinuses, thus returning to the venous circulation.

You can quiz your knowledge on the histological aspects of the spleen with our quiz in multiple difficulty levels:

Do you want to learn all the components and organs of the lymphatic system easily and efficiently? Use Kenhub's quizzes and labelled diagrams of the lymphatic system and crush your upcoming exams!

Blood vessels

The arterial supply of the spleen comes from the tortuous splenic artery, which reaches the spleen as it travels through the splenorenal ligament. This artery emerges from the celiac trunk, which is a branch of the abdominal aorta

The venous drainage of the spleen occurs via the splenic vein, which also receives blood from the inferior mesenteric vein. Posterior to the neck of the pancreas, the splenic vein unites with the superior mesenteric vein to form the hepatic portal vein

Lymphatic drainage

The splenic lymph nodes lie at the hilum and receive lymph via perivascular and subcapsular lymphatic vessels. It is then drained to the superior pancreatic (pancreaticosplenic) lymph nodes found at the superior surface of the pancreas. From there, the lymph is drained to the celiac lymph nodes.

Learn more about the vasculature and lymphatics of the spleen using the following study units:

Innervation

The spleen is innervated by autonomic nerves from the celiac plexus, which supply the spleen with both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves. These nerves form the splenic plexus which reaches the splenic hilum traveling along the splenic artery and its branches.

Function

The spleen is a secondary lymphoid organ. This means that the spleen filters blood and presents foreign particles (antigens) to the lymphocytes it houses. In this way, the spleen stimulates the maturation and activation of lymphocytes.

By filtering blood, the spleen also recycles senescent and damaged erythrocytes. In healthy individuals, approximately one-third of total platelets (thrombocytes) are stored in the spleen. In health disturbances followed by spleen enlargement (splenomegaly), the amount of platelets sequestrated in the spleen increases up to 90%, resulting in thrombocytopenia (a low number of platelets in circulating blood). When thrombocytopenia is severe, it can result in spontaneous bleeding which can be very dangerous, especially if it occurs within the central nervous system. Note that in fetuses the spleen is the site where hematopoiesis occurs, meaning that the spleen is the source of blood cell formation until the bone marrow becomes competent to take over that process.

Related articles

Articles within this topic:

Spleen: want to learn more about it?

Our engaging videos, interactive quizzes, in-depth articles and HD atlas are here to get you top results faster.

What do you prefer to learn with?

“I would honestly say that Kenhub cut my study time in half.” – Read more.

Kim Bengochea Kim Bengochea, Regis University, Denver
© Unless stated otherwise, all content, including illustrations are exclusive property of Kenhub GmbH, and are protected by German and international copyright laws. All rights reserved.

Register now and grab your free ultimate anatomy study guide!