613
J. Anat. (1976), 121, 3, pp. 613-616 With 5 figures Printed in Great Britain
Vascular segments in the human spleen C. D. GUPTA, S. C. GUPTA, A. K. ARORA AND P. JEYA SINGH
Department of Anatomy, S.N. Medical College, Agra, India
(Accepted 26 July 1975) Kyb-r (1870) described the spleen in man, cat, dog, horse and rabbit as being divided into several segments by 'fibrous septa'. He stated that each segment was supplied by its own main artery. Tait & Cashin (1925) confirmed the presence of segments in the spleen of the dog and cat and showed that stimulation of individual neurovascular bundles in the dog spleen produced localized contraction of a segment. However, Dreyer & Budtz-Olson (1952) are commonly regarded as being the first workers to describe the human spleen as consisting of a series of segments each with its own vein: they discovered this while carrying out diagnostic splenic venography. Braithwaite & Adams (1956) studied the splenic segments by injecting radioopaque media and stated that each segment had an independent arterial supply and venous drainage. Clausen (1958) and Gutierrez (1969) demonstrated splenic segments in corrosion casts of the splenic artery and its branches. Likewise, the present paper reports on segmentation in the human spleen after making corrosion casts of the splenic artery and its branches. MATERIAL AND METHOD
Material for the present study consisted of 50 adult human spleens obtained from post-mortem bodies within 24 hours of death. The splenic artery was dissected out and then cannulated with a glass cannula having latex tubing at the other end. The interior of this channel was thoroughly washed with tap water to remove blood. Using a 50 ml syringe an 18 % red solution of butyl butyrate in acetone was injected into the splenic artery at constant rate and pressure. Injected specimens were transferred to 10 % formal saline for 24 hours to allow the butyl butyrate to set. The specimen was then placed in a jar of concentrated hydrochloric acid and observed daily until soft tissue corrosion was complete. The resulting cast was cleaned in running water. Later on the casts were studied for the splenic segments on the basis of intrasplenic distribution of the splenic artery. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In 42 specimens (84 %) the splenic artery divided into two primary branches (Fig. 1) and in the other 8 specimens (16 %) into three primary branches (Fig. 2). Each primary branch was found to supply a definite segment of the spleen, with only slight overlapping and without any apparent anastomoses between the vessels of adjacent segments.
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C. D. GUPTA AND OTHERS
Fig. 1. Showing two primary branches of the splenic artery.
Fig. 2. Showing three primary branches of the splenic artery.
On the basis of primary arterial branching, two segments - a superior and an inferior - were seen in 42 specimens (84 %) (Fig. 3): they were separated by an avascular plane lying perpendicular to the long axis of the spleen (Fig. 4). In the 8 specimens (16 %) in which there were three primary branches of the artery, there were three segments - a superior, a middle and an inferior - arranged cranio-caudally
(Fig. 5).
Segments of the human spleen
615
Posterior pole
Anterior pole
Fig. 3. Showing two splenic segments - superior and inferior.
Fig. 4. Arrows indicate the site of avascular zone between the splenic segments.
A similar study by Clausen (1958) showed the presence of two segments in 80 % of cases. Guitierrez (1969) reported the presence of two segments in 90 % of his series and three or four segments in the rest. Nguyen Huu (1956) also reported the presence of two segments in the spleen: these segments were separated by an intersegmental avascular zone lying perpendicular to the main axis of the organ, as observed by Clausen (1958) and Gutierrez (1969).
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C. D. GUPTA AND OTHERS
Anterior pole
Fig. 5. Showing three splenic segments - superior, middle and inferior.
Braithwaite & Adams (1956) demonstrated 5-7 splenic compartments in rats, each being supplied by a separate branch of the splenic artery and drained by a separate tributary of the splenic vein. A segmental arrangement of the splenic veins has also been demonstrated in dogs (Goldlewski, Pelissier & Emberger, 1957) and in man (Fuild & Irwin, 1954). SUMMARY
Corrosion casts of human splenic arterial trees revealed the presence of two splenic segments - a superior and an inferior - in 84 % of cases and three segments - a superior, a middle and an inferior - in 16 % of cases. These segments are separated by avascular planes. REFERENCES BRAITHWAITE, J. L. & ADAMS, D. J. (1956). Vascular segments in the rat spleen. Nature 178, 1178-1179. CLAUSEN, E. (1958). Cited by F. Goldby and R. J. Harrison (1961): Recent Advances in Anatomy, 2nd edition, p. 392. London: J. & A. Churchill Ltd. DREYER, B. & BUDTZ-OLSEN, 0. E. (1952). Splenic venography - Demonstration of portal circulation with diodone. Lancet 1, 530-531. FULD, H. & IRWIN, D. T. (1954). Clinical application of portal venography. Lancet 1, 312-313. GOLDEWSKI, M., PELISSIER, M. & EMBERGER, J. M. (1957). Cited by F. Goldby and R. J. Harrison (1961). Recent Advances in Anatomy, 2nd edition, p. 392. London: J. & A. Churchill Ltd. GUTIERREZ-CUBILLOS, C. (1969). Segmentation of the spleen - Segmentacion esplenica. Cat. de Anat. Rev. Esp. Enferm - Apar Dig. 29, 341-350. KYBER, E. (1870). Uber die Milz des Menschen und einiger Saugetiere. Archivffur mikroskopische Anatomie und Entwicklungsmechanik 6, 540-570. NGUYEN Huu (1956). Cited by F. Goldby and R. J. Harrison (1961): Recent Advances in Anatomy, 2nd edition, p. 392. London: J. & A. Churchill Ltd. TAIT, J. & CASHIN, M. F. (1925). Some points concerning the structure and function of the spleen. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology 15, 421-445.
J. Anat. (1976), 121, 3, pp. 613-616 With 5 figures Printed in Great Britain
Vascular segments in the human spleen C. D. GUPTA, S. C. GUPTA, A. K. ARORA AND P. JEYA SINGH
Department of Anatomy, S.N. Medical College, Agra, India
(Accepted 26 July 1975) Kyb-r (1870) described the spleen in man, cat, dog, horse and rabbit as being divided into several segments by 'fibrous septa'. He stated that each segment was supplied by its own main artery. Tait & Cashin (1925) confirmed the presence of segments in the spleen of the dog and cat and showed that stimulation of individual neurovascular bundles in the dog spleen produced localized contraction of a segment. However, Dreyer & Budtz-Olson (1952) are commonly regarded as being the first workers to describe the human spleen as consisting of a series of segments each with its own vein: they discovered this while carrying out diagnostic splenic venography. Braithwaite & Adams (1956) studied the splenic segments by injecting radioopaque media and stated that each segment had an independent arterial supply and venous drainage. Clausen (1958) and Gutierrez (1969) demonstrated splenic segments in corrosion casts of the splenic artery and its branches. Likewise, the present paper reports on segmentation in the human spleen after making corrosion casts of the splenic artery and its branches. MATERIAL AND METHOD
Material for the present study consisted of 50 adult human spleens obtained from post-mortem bodies within 24 hours of death. The splenic artery was dissected out and then cannulated with a glass cannula having latex tubing at the other end. The interior of this channel was thoroughly washed with tap water to remove blood. Using a 50 ml syringe an 18 % red solution of butyl butyrate in acetone was injected into the splenic artery at constant rate and pressure. Injected specimens were transferred to 10 % formal saline for 24 hours to allow the butyl butyrate to set. The specimen was then placed in a jar of concentrated hydrochloric acid and observed daily until soft tissue corrosion was complete. The resulting cast was cleaned in running water. Later on the casts were studied for the splenic segments on the basis of intrasplenic distribution of the splenic artery. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In 42 specimens (84 %) the splenic artery divided into two primary branches (Fig. 1) and in the other 8 specimens (16 %) into three primary branches (Fig. 2). Each primary branch was found to supply a definite segment of the spleen, with only slight overlapping and without any apparent anastomoses between the vessels of adjacent segments.
614
C. D. GUPTA AND OTHERS
Fig. 1. Showing two primary branches of the splenic artery.
Fig. 2. Showing three primary branches of the splenic artery.
On the basis of primary arterial branching, two segments - a superior and an inferior - were seen in 42 specimens (84 %) (Fig. 3): they were separated by an avascular plane lying perpendicular to the long axis of the spleen (Fig. 4). In the 8 specimens (16 %) in which there were three primary branches of the artery, there were three segments - a superior, a middle and an inferior - arranged cranio-caudally
(Fig. 5).
Segments of the human spleen
615
Posterior pole
Anterior pole
Fig. 3. Showing two splenic segments - superior and inferior.
Fig. 4. Arrows indicate the site of avascular zone between the splenic segments.
A similar study by Clausen (1958) showed the presence of two segments in 80 % of cases. Guitierrez (1969) reported the presence of two segments in 90 % of his series and three or four segments in the rest. Nguyen Huu (1956) also reported the presence of two segments in the spleen: these segments were separated by an intersegmental avascular zone lying perpendicular to the main axis of the organ, as observed by Clausen (1958) and Gutierrez (1969).
616
C. D. GUPTA AND OTHERS
Anterior pole
Fig. 5. Showing three splenic segments - superior, middle and inferior.
Braithwaite & Adams (1956) demonstrated 5-7 splenic compartments in rats, each being supplied by a separate branch of the splenic artery and drained by a separate tributary of the splenic vein. A segmental arrangement of the splenic veins has also been demonstrated in dogs (Goldlewski, Pelissier & Emberger, 1957) and in man (Fuild & Irwin, 1954). SUMMARY
Corrosion casts of human splenic arterial trees revealed the presence of two splenic segments - a superior and an inferior - in 84 % of cases and three segments - a superior, a middle and an inferior - in 16 % of cases. These segments are separated by avascular planes. REFERENCES BRAITHWAITE, J. L. & ADAMS, D. J. (1956). Vascular segments in the rat spleen. Nature 178, 1178-1179. CLAUSEN, E. (1958). Cited by F. Goldby and R. J. Harrison (1961): Recent Advances in Anatomy, 2nd edition, p. 392. London: J. & A. Churchill Ltd. DREYER, B. & BUDTZ-OLSEN, 0. E. (1952). Splenic venography - Demonstration of portal circulation with diodone. Lancet 1, 530-531. FULD, H. & IRWIN, D. T. (1954). Clinical application of portal venography. Lancet 1, 312-313. GOLDEWSKI, M., PELISSIER, M. & EMBERGER, J. M. (1957). Cited by F. Goldby and R. J. Harrison (1961). Recent Advances in Anatomy, 2nd edition, p. 392. London: J. & A. Churchill Ltd. GUTIERREZ-CUBILLOS, C. (1969). Segmentation of the spleen - Segmentacion esplenica. Cat. de Anat. Rev. Esp. Enferm - Apar Dig. 29, 341-350. KYBER, E. (1870). Uber die Milz des Menschen und einiger Saugetiere. Archivffur mikroskopische Anatomie und Entwicklungsmechanik 6, 540-570. NGUYEN Huu (1956). Cited by F. Goldby and R. J. Harrison (1961): Recent Advances in Anatomy, 2nd edition, p. 392. London: J. & A. Churchill Ltd. TAIT, J. & CASHIN, M. F. (1925). Some points concerning the structure and function of the spleen. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology 15, 421-445.
