Surgical Anatomy of the Spleen

[1-4]: Although known for more than 3,000 years, the spleen continues to be one of the most misunderstood human organs, even from a morphological point of view. Its disregard among the majority of doctors and researchers is responsible for the sparse and discontinued anatomical studies regarding the spleen.

The major consequence resulting from the indifference of the scientific and medical worlds towards this organ has occurred in surgery, considering that spleen operations have progressed during the last twenty years more than throughout the history of Medicine. It is not fair to realize that the dogma that still predominates amongst doctors is that spleen surgery results simply in “through out the spleen!”.

This demonstration of medical ignorance and the lack of professional sensibility trend to be modified by the scientific works of recent decades. Discoveries regarding the functioning of the spleen have aided a number of anatomy specialists in improving their efforts regarding the morphology of the spleen. The foundations of these scientific advances have affected new surgical proposals for this organ and its vascular pedicle. The benefits of new surgical proposals have increased the survival rate among many patients as well as reduced the complications that the “spleen removers” once imposed upon their victims.

Keywords: Anatomy, Spleen, Splenectomy, Morphology, Artery, Vein, Nerve, Lymphatic, Surgery.