Topography
It is attached to the greater curvature of the stomach by the gastrosplenic ligament. Its dorsal end (head) lies under the last left ribs, between the gastric fundus and the cranial pole of the left kidney; the body runs down the left flank, and the ventral end, whose position varies, can reach the abdominal floor and even cross to the right. Its size changes greatly with its blood content.
Clinical relevance
- Splenic masses: haemangiosarcoma (German Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever) is a common cause of haemoabdomen; haematoma and nodular hyperplasia are benign but look similar on ultrasound.
- Anaesthetic splenomegaly: barbiturates and acepromazine congest the spleen.
- Splenic torsion: in large deep-chested breeds, alone or with gastric dilatation-volvulus.
3D model
Schematic shape (illustrative fidelity), placed from landmarks on the skeleton and the scanned organs. It shows topography, not fine morphology.
The spleen could not be isolated reliably in the CT used, so it was modelled.