Morphometric Study of Spleen

Abstract

BACKGROUND Spleen is the largest lymphoid organ playing a vital role in the defense mechanism of the body and performs a unique function of filtration of blood by phagocytes. We wanted to study the morphological variations and to compare the results with previous findings and to unearth the so far unnoticed features of the spleen. METHODS This is a descriptive study. 60 human cadaveric normal spleens were studied. The morphological features of the spleen such as shape, surfaces, poles, and measurements of borders, weight, thickness, notches, fissures, lobes, lobules, hilum and accessory spleens have been studied. RESULTS Spleens showed many shapes and they were classified into 15 forms. Most of the spleens were wedge shaped [31.66%, ], followed by triangular [11.6%], rounded [10%], tetrahedral [8.3%], irregular [8.3%], oval [5%], bilobed [5%], trilobed [5%], heart shaped [3.3 %], cone shaped [1.6%], tent shaped [1.6%], orange peel [1.6%], foot shaped [1.6%], fork shaped [1.6%] and lobulated [3.3%]. Length, breadth, thickness and weight, varied between 6 cm-15 cm, 4.5 cm-11.5 cm, 1.5 cm-3.5 cm and 70-180 grams respectively. Medial and lateral ends, surfaces, borders, notches, lobes and lobules and fissures were noted in most of the spleens. In circular, irregular conical, tent shaped spleens, the borders could not be identified properly. 96.6% of spleens showed notches on their superior border. 3.4% of spleens were without notches. Notches were absolutely absent in inferior border. Fissures were noticed on both the surfaces in 11.6% of spleens. Two accessory spleens were noticed out of 60 spleens. One accessory spleen was found near the hilum. It was pea shaped and pea sized. Another accessory spleen was oval in shape situated on a deep depression on the visceral surface of the spleen connected to it by a bridge of splenic tissue and supplied by small branches of splenic artery. It measured about 3 cms. in diameter. CONCLUSIONS The knowledge of different shapes of the spleen, variations in dimensions, absence/presence of notches in unusual sites, occasional presence of fissures on the surfaces, lobes and lobules and presence/absence of accessory spleens is important for physicians, surgeons, radiologists and anatomists.

Variations of Spleen Morphology: A Study of Adult Human Cadaveric Spleens in a Medical Institute in North East India

“…The most common shape was the wedge shape followed by triangular, irregular, oval, and round shapes. The observation of wedge shaped spleen as the commonest shape is in agreement with the findings of many other studies in India, 6,10,[11][12][13][14][15] but differs from Srivani D et al 9 and Swargam N 16 who observed tetrahedral and triangular shapes respectively as the commonest shapes. The tetrahedral shaped spleen was not found in our study, but the round shaped spleen constituted 5.89% of the total of 34 spleens observed.…”

“…The anomalous fissures were seen on both the diaphragmatic and visceral surfaces in the current study and Anusha D et al 15 reported similar findings. The anomalous fissures might be due improper fusion of the splenic nodules during development or mechanical pressure by the adjacent viscera.…”

“…* n = Total number of specimens. 10 10.15 6.01 3.23 156.01 Biswal R et al 11 11.92 † 7.08 † 3.08 * 103.95 † Anusha D et al 15 9.82 8.24 † 2.85 † 131.00 * Agarwal KK et al 19 9. Values are expressed in Mean; * P<0.01 and † P<0.001 as compared to present study (One-sample T test).…”

“…These findings were in contradiction to many studies in India. In a study of a total of 60 cadaveric spleens, Anusha D et al 15 reported round shaped spleen in 10% of the specimens. The variations in the shapes are mostly determined by the relationships of the organ to neighbouring structures during development.…”

“…The notches in the spleen indicated incomplete fusion between lobules of splenic tissue. 15 The presence of splenic notch could be helpful in palpating the spleen clinically, but variations in the number of notches could be misguiding the clinicians in differentiating the renal tumours from splenomegaly.…”