Vasculature of the spleen - Erler Zimmer

Vasculature of the spleen - Erler Zimmer

At the splenic hilum, the entry of the splenic artery and vein into the spleen for supplying and draining the organ can be observed. To maintain the patency of the splenic vein's opening in the model, silicon tubing has been inserted. Notably, this model illustrates that the most superior branch of the splenic vein has been intentionally separated from its usual path into the spleen. The splenic artery exhibits a notably "tortuous" or twisted configuration as it branches at the hilum, reflecting its overall coiled and meandering course from the coeliac trunk to the spleen.
The splenic artery and vein give rise to the short gastric vasculature as well as the left gastro-omental vasculature. However, in this specimen, the splenic artery and vein have been severed after the branching of these vessels, rendering them unobservable in the model.
The splenorenal ligament, connecting the spleen to the left kidney, houses the splenic artery, splenic vein, and the tail of the pancreas. It is formed by the overlapping of peritoneum that originally constituted part of the dorsal mesentery during embryological development. Unfortunately, the splenorenal ligament is not visible in the model as the peritoneum has been removed to reveal the splenic vasculature.
The gastrosplenic ligament, which links the stomach to the spleen and contains the short gastric arteries and a segment of the left gastro-omental artery at its point of origin from the splenic artery, shares a similar developmental origin as the splenorenal ligament. However, it is absent in the model since the splenic artery was dissected after its formation.
The external surface of the spleen is encased in a delicate fibrous capsule. Given its fragility and the significant volume of blood typically present in the spleen, the fibrous capsule is susceptible to rupture.