The Spleen
The bright red, elongated, and straplike spleen is oriented more or less vertically under the protection of the more caudal ribs on the left side (Fig. 34.5 and 34.7). It follows the greater curvature of the stomach, to which it is loosely attached by a gastrosplenic ligament that is sufficiently generous to make splenic torsion a relatively frequent mishap.
Its parietal surface is in contact with the diaphragm. Its visceral surface is divided by a long hilus into cranial and caudal strips that relate to the stomach and the intestines, respectively. The dorsal extremity extends into the space between the stomach, left kidney, and pancreas, but it is usually prevented from making direct contact with these organs by the interposition of fat. The ventral extremity may emerge below the left costal arch and, exceptionally, may even cross the abdomen to the right side; although its position is determined by the degree of fullness of the stomach, it never wholly leaves the protection of the ribs. Its sectioned surface is patterned by the presence of very prominent splenic corpuscles.
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