Morphology of the spleen and its ligamentous apparatus

Abstract

Background: Knowing structural aspects of spleen is of interest, especially in surgical interventions, both urgent and elective ones, particularly in modern times when surgical interventions wider take place with maximal preserving injured organs, including in isolated or concomitant abdominal trauma. Material and methods: Spleen capsule histoarchitectonics was studied by histotopograms with hematoxylin and eosin, van Gieson’s, Weigert’s resorcinol and fuchsine staining. The following parameters were studied depending on age and gender by morphometric method: spleen form, linear dimensions of spleen and its ligaments. Descriptive statistics allowed presenting results in tables. Results: In teenagers (age Group VII), the most frequent form of the spleen is the intermediate one, while in adults (Groups VIII1 and VIII2) and people of the senile age – the prolate form. Difference in spleen length is statistically significant in age Groups VII and VIII1 – 121.5±3.12 mm and 125.1±3.08 mm respectively in men; 94.7±2.09 mm and 85.8±2.11 mm – in women (p<0.001). Difference in the spleen width depending on gender is statistically significant for Group VII – 77.2±2.11 mm in men and 61.6±2.25 mm in women; in age Group VIII1 – 78.1±2.07 mm in men and 59.2±2.16 mm in women. For the examined age group the mean height of the gastrolienal ligament is 51.8±0.81 mm for men, and 45.9±1.00 mm for women. Conclusions: The capsule of spleen is formed by collagen fiber fascicles, elastic fibers as well as relatively few myocytes. The height of the gastrolienal ligament is bigger in men than in women. Spleen dimensions decrease with aging.