Structure of the spleen
Learning objectives
After going through this study, you will be able to:
- Describe the location of the spleen and its relations with nearby organs.
- Identify the parts and landmarks of the spleen.
- Get familiar with the structure and main functions of this organ.
Watch video
The spleen is a soft, delicate, fist-sized, intraperitoneal organ covered by a fibroelastic capsule. It is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen (left hypochondrium), at the level of the 9th to 11th ribs, posterior to the stomach and anterior to the left hemidiaphragm and costodiaphragmatic recess. It plays an important role in the immune system, by participating both in the humoral and the cell-mediated responses.
After watching the following video you will learn everything you should know about the anatomy of the spleen, its internal structure, relations and neurovasculature.
Take a quiz
Test your knowledge of the spleen by taking the following quiz:
You can also challenge yourself with a quiz that covers all the major organs of the abdomen! Check the following custom quiz and test your knowledge in the abdominal organs.
Browse atlas
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Recap everything that you have previously learned about spleen by going through our atlas gallery:
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/margo-superior-splenica/wBorqpiaQmaFhJ5cUIPH8g_Margo_superior_01.png "Superior border of spleen (Margo superior splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/margo-inferior-splenica/iwbJQSc0r8hqKafDFXAbWQ_Margo_inferior_01.png "Inferior border of spleen (Margo inferior splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/extremitas-anterior-splenica/KBOvbx0jVnm9sn84I1fw_Extremitas_anterior_01.png "Anterior extremity of spleen (Extremitas anterior splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/extremitas-posterior-splenica/1JLaEiQLtrvW1wWeTsi4xw_Extremitas_posterior_01.png "Posterior extremity of spleen (Extremitas posterior splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/facies-diaphragmatica-splenica/V3432vDTyrq8pNzdFwTL3w_Facies_diaphragmatica_01.png "Diaphragmatic surface of spleen (Facies diaphragmatica splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/facies-gastrica-splenica/IFvH77ljjxZaqmz1ETR4rQ_Facies_gastrica_01.png "Gastric impression of spleen (Facies gastrica splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/facies-colica-splenica/0cmGlgxU88ily352q0Xqtg_Facies_colica_01.png "Colic impression of spleen (Facies colica splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/facies-renalis-splenica/P2tW2lShEzdJflQQEjl2RA_Facies_renalis_01.png "Renal impression of spleen (Facies renalis splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/hilum-splenicum/ghxcbrbAqgOIJDzZUkwD8Q_Hilium_01.png "Hilum of spleen (Hilum splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/arteria-splenica-3/cjLYZCG8ZRp2JPe26oWBog_A._lienalis_01.png "Splenic artery (Arteria splenica); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/vena-splenica-vena-lienalis/K7I7hX5uJC0vcp4ASHRw_V._lienalis_01.png "Splenic vein (Vena splenica); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ligamentum-gastrosplenicum-2/71CjSePOD2DZqPh68mSfw_Lig._gastrosplenicum_01.png "Gastrosplenic ligament (Ligamentum gastrosplenicum); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ligamentum-splenorenale/DMG0W1BQO1bS88J59KoPmA_Lig._splenorenale_01.png "Splenorenal ligament (Ligamentum splenorenale); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/capsula-fibrosa-splenica/tYKR6Lh47OE4OIQF2cxxA_Capsula_fibrosa_01.png "Fibrous capsule of spleen (Capsula fibrosa splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/pulpa-splenica/D0ePTdPsFJh01w0XOzPNA_Pulpa_splenica_01.png "Splenic pulp (Pulpa splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/trabeculae-splenicae/YbJhxmQ1t8Zg63SgxX1rvw_Trabelculae_splenicae_01.png "Splenic trabeculae (Trabeculae splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/trabecular-arteries/YoeovGk3mQxZktdozDeyQ_A._trabecularis_02.png "Trabecular artery of spleen (Arteria trabecularis splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/venae-trabeculares/9ZJ6muZ3RnqVvtdr9jTfQ_V._trabecularis_01.png "Trabecular vein of spleen (Vena trabecularis splenis); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Definition | Intraperitoneal lymphatic organ found on the left side of the abdomen, inferior to the diaphragm |
| Relations of spleen |
Superolateral: Diaphragm Anteromedial: Stomach Posteroinferior: Left kidney (and superior pole of the left suprarenal gland) Inferior pole: Left flexure of the colon |
| Neurovascular supply |
Arterial supply: Splenic artery Venous drainage: Splenic vein Lymphatic drainage: Celiac nodes Innervation: Celiac plexus |
Well done!
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