Abstract

Introduction: The spleen is a large haemo-lymphoid organ that are situated in the left hypochondrium andis partly in the epigastrium. Anatomically, it is placed between the fundus of stomach and diaphragm opposite to the 9th to 11th ribs. Spleen is an enormously vascular, soft and friable organ which is more or less purple in colour and moves with respiration.The importance of the spleen in protection from infection was actively neglected and it was thought that the other lymphatic organs of the body could take over its functions. Currently, a total splenectomy is vastly replaced by partial splenectomy by surgeons. Therefore, this study is meant to be carried out to find the morphology of spleen and its variations.
Materials and Methodology: The present study was carried out on embalmed cadavers that include both the sexes in the Department of Anatomy, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. This study comprised of 65 complete spleen samples whereas the specimens withdestructed surface and margins by any mechanical, pathological and other conditions were excluded from the study. Dissection was carried out by following the Cunningham’s manual of practical anatomy. The specimens were allowed to be preserved in 10% formalin. All the collected samples were collected as per their weight, length, width, breadth was promptly measured, and the number of notches present were recorded. The weight of the spleen was calculated using the electronic weighing machine. The length was calculated as the greatest distance between the two poles of the spleen.
Results: The weight taken from 65 specimens ranges from 50-200 gm in 56 specimens (86%) and from 201-350 gm in 8 specimens (12%) and above 350 gm in 1 specimen (2%). The length of the spleen ranges from 6-9 cm in 31 (48%) and 9-15 cm in 34 (52%) specimens. Breadth of the spleen varies from 2-5 cm in 21 (32%) specimen, 5-9 cm in 42 (64%) specimen and 9-13 cm in 3 (4%) specimens. Thickness of the spleen varied from 2-4 cm in 62 (96%) and 4-6 cm 3 (4%) specimen respectively.
Conclusion: Despite the many indications for splenectomy, like traumatic rupture, hypersplenism, neoplasia, splenic cyst, the present tendency of the surgeons is to aid for conservative management and to remotely conserve as much splenic tissue as possible. Hence the sound knowledge on the variational anatomy of the spleen is of fundamental and is of utmost importance.