The Splenic Artery and Segmental Branches Morphometric Study in Humanoid Cadaver Spleens by Method of Dissection

Abstract

Human spleen has various functions including immune system regulation and haematopoisis. The spleen is an extremely vascularized and fragile organ. It is the second major lymphatic organ, containing 25% of lymphoid tissue in the body, and has haematologic and immunologic roles. Objective: To understand the segmental branches morphometry of the polar and splenic arteries. Methods: The analysis was performed on 86 spleens collected from adult human cadavers of not known gender, stored in 10% formalin solution. In the Department of Anatomy, Mohi-ud-Din Islamic Medical College (MIMC), Mirpur, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Women Medical and Dental College Hospitals, Abbottabad for six- months duration from July-December 2021 Results: In 59 (68.6%) spleen samples; there were 2 primary branches, 23 (26.7%) samples had three primary branches, and 4 (4.7%) specimens had four primary branches. 20 (23.3%) samples had superior polar arteries, 34 (39.5%) had inferior polar arteries, and both inferior and superior polar arteries in 7 (8.1%) samples. The inferior polar artery length ranged from 0.9-5.90 cm, with 3.17 cm of average length and 3.30 cm median length. The superior PB diameter ranged from 0.8-4.12 mm, with 2.20 mm average length and 2.4 mm median length. The mean diameter of middle PB ranged from 0.8 mm to 3.6 mm, with an average of 2.10 mm and 2.4 mm median length. The superior polar artery diameter ranged from 0.5-3.1 mm, with 1.40 mm average length and 1.4 mm of median. The inferior polar artery diameter varies from 0.5-2.9 mm, with 1.3 mm of an average diameter with 1.4 mm median. Conclusions: As various splenic sparing surgeries depend on a better information of the vascular anatomy of the spleen, this analysis enhances the current information about the segmental branches’ morphometry of the splenic artery.