Study of the Polar Arteries Supplying the Spleen and Their Significance in Its Viability

Abstract

Background: To study the blood supply of the spleen
and its segmental distribution, with a particular interest on
the presence and adequacy of collateral vessels supplying
the spleen.
Methods: The study was performed at the Department
of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdul-Aziz
University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia during the years 2004-
2007. In this study, the blood supply of the spleen was
studied in 15 human stillbirths and 10 adult cadavers of
different ages and sexes. The study involved dissection,
radiological and injection-corrosion techniques. In
addition, an experimental study was carried out on twelve
albino rats which were divided into 3 groups. In the
first group, the splenic artery was ligated. In the second
group, the terminal splenic branches were ligated and the
third group was left as a control. Two weeks after ligation,
the spleens from different rats were removed and
examined.
Results: In the human specimens, the results showed
that the medial end of spleen was found to receive one or
more polar arteries arising from the following sources; the
upper short gastric artery (40%), both upper short gastric
artery and arterial network at the stomach fundus (48%),
the phrenic artery (8%) or from the aorta (4%). The lateral
end of spleen was also found to receive lateral polar artery
which arose in all cases from the left gastroepiploic artery.
Regarding the rats, the results showed that in the first
group, the spleen looked normal except in one case where
an infarction was produced. In the second group, the
spleen remained normal and functioning as evidenced by
the maintained phagocytic activity to India ink.
Conclusions: It was concluded that the spleen is
supplied by polar arteries in addition to the terminal
splenic branches and that arteries can maintain viable and
functioning spleen even after ligation of the splenic artery
or its terminal branches