VARIATION IN SIZE, SHAPE AND LENGTH OF THE FISSURE IN SPLEEN: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Spleen is solid friable, vascular organ, belonging to the reticuloendothelial system. Spleen is the largest lymphatic organ, Its immunological and hematological functions are being well realized now-a-days and variation in its shape, location, number, and size are frequently seen in humans. Enlarged spleen can be palpated through the anterior abdominal wall. Extension of the enlarged spleen is always downwards and towards the right iliac fossa. However, peritoneal anomalies of spleen are very rare. Knowledge of these peritoneal anomalies will be helpful in surgery and management of conditions affecting spleen .Materials and Methods: The present study included 5 human cadaveric spleen(fig.1,2,3,4,5)respectively. The morphological features of the spleen like its length, breadth, width and weight were measured. The shape, poles, borders, surfaces and the impressions on the spleen were observed. Results: The organs was also observed for its abnormal shape and presence of notches on its superior margin the lengths of the spleens varied between 5 cm to 13 cm, with an average of 9.66 cm. Their breadth was between 3.5 and 9.5 cm. The average breadth was 6.22 cm. Their widths varied between 1.5 and 5.5 cm, with an average of 3.06 cm. The weights of the spleens showed great variations, ranging between 80 and 300 gm, with an average of 145.76 gm Conclusion: The findings of the present study will be of fundamental importance to the physicians, surgeons and radiologists and of course, this knowledge is very important for the anatomists during their routine classroom dissections.