Visceral Surface of the Spleen Flashcards

Identify the splenic visceral surface, its organ impressions, hilar structures, peritoneal attachments, and clinical relationships.

Card 1 of 24Question

What is the visceral surface of the spleen?

The irregular, concave surface facing the stomach, left kidney, colon, and pancreatic tail.

In This Section

1. What is the visceral surface of the spleen?

The irregular, concave surface facing the stomach, left kidney, colon, and pancreatic tail.

2. In which general direction does the visceral surface of the spleen face?

Medially, inferiorly, and somewhat anteriorly.

3. What are the four commonly described impressions on the splenic visceral surface?

The gastric, renal, colic, and pancreatic impressions.

4. Which organ produces the gastric impression on the spleen?

The stomach, particularly its fundus.

5. Where is the gastric impression located on the visceral surface?

Primarily in the anterior and superior portion.

6. Which peritoneal cavity separates the gastric impression from the stomach?

The lesser sac, also called the omental bursa.

7. Which organ produces the renal impression on the spleen?

The left kidney.

8. Where is the renal impression located on the splenic visceral surface?

Primarily in the posterior and inferior region.

9. Which intestinal structure produces the colic impression?

The left colic flexure, also called the splenic flexure.

10. Where is the colic impression usually located?

Near the inferior portion of the visceral surface.

11. Which pancreatic structure produces the pancreatic impression?

The tail of the pancreas.

12. What is the anatomical relationship between the pancreatic impression and splenic hilum?

The pancreatic impression lies near the hilum, where the pancreatic tail approaches the spleen.

13. What is the splenic hilum?

A region on the visceral surface through which splenic vessels, nerves, and lymphatics pass.

14. Which major artery enters the spleen through the hilar region?

The splenic artery, a branch of the celiac trunk.

15. Which major vein emerges from the splenic hilar region?

The splenic vein.

16. Which peritoneal ligament connects the splenic visceral surface to the stomach?

The gastrosplenic ligament.

17. Which vessels pass through the gastrosplenic ligament?

The short gastric and left gastro-omental vessels.

18. Which ligament connects the splenic hilum to the posterior abdominal wall near the left kidney?

The splenorenal ligament, also called the lienorenal ligament.

19. Which structures pass through the splenorenal ligament?

The splenic artery, splenic vein, and pancreatic tail.

20. How does the peritoneal covering of the visceral surface differ at the splenic hilum?

The hilum lacks the usual peritoneal covering where vessels pass and peritoneum reflects into the ligaments.

21. How does the visceral surface differ from the diaphragmatic surface of the spleen?

The visceral surface bears organ impressions, while the diaphragmatic surface is smooth and convex.

22. Why is the pancreatic impression clinically important during splenectomy?

The nearby pancreatic tail may be injured during dissection of the splenic hilum.

23. How can the gastric relationship of the splenic visceral surface contribute to a surgical complication?

Injury to short gastric vessels during splenic mobilization can cause bleeding.

24. Why is the colic impression important during splenic mobilization?

It identifies the close relationship of the spleen to the left colic flexure, which must be protected during dissection.