Located in the left hypochondrium between the stomach and the left colic flexor.
Parallel to ribs 9, 10, and 11.
Long axis parallel to the 10th rib.
Lateral end at the mid-axillary line.
Surface Anatomy
Parallel to ribs 9, 10, and 11.
Long axis opposite the 10th rib.
Lateral end at the mid-axillary line.
Peritoneal Covering
Completely covered with peritoneum except the hilum and the area related to the tail of the pancreas.
Related to the lesser and greater sacs.
Ligaments:
Gastro-splenic ligament (spleen to stomach)
Lineal ligament (spleen to left kidney)
Phrenicolcolic ligament (left colic flexure to diaphragm)
Spleen rests on phrenocolic ligament.
Relations
Diaphragmatic surface:
Related to the diaphragm.
Diaphragm separates the spleen from the 9th to 11th ribs.
Has upper and lower borders. Upper border has notches near the lateral end.
Visceral surface:
Related to four impressions: gastric (stomach), renal (left kidney), colic (left colic flexure), pancreatic (tail of pancreas).
Hilum present on the visceral surface.
Arterial Supply & Venous Drainage
Splenic artery: From the celiac trunk, runs along the upper border of the body of the pancreas. Branches include pancreatic branches, splenic branches, short gastric branches, and left gastroepiploic artery.
Splenic vein: Arises from the hilum, enters the anorenal ligament, and unites with the superior mesenteric vein to form the portal vein.
Stomach
Position & Surface Anatomy
Located in the epigastrium and left hypochondrium.
Cardiac end: One inch left of the midline, opposite T11.
Pyloric end: One inch right of the midline, opposite L1.
Fundus: Left fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line.
Shape and Divisions
Two borders: lesser curvature and greater curvature.
Two ends: cardiac end and pyloric end.
Two surfaces: anterior and posterior.
Divisions:
Cardiac part: Fundus (above cardiac notch) and body (below cardiac notch).
Completely covered with peritoneum except a small area behind the cardiac end.
Ligaments:
Lesser curvature: Lesser omentum.
Greater curvature: Gastrophrenic ligament (between fundus and diaphragm), gastro-splenic ligament (between greater curvature and spleen), greater omentum (between greater curvature and transverse colon).
Relations
Borders:
Lesser curvature: Related to the left and right gastric arteries, gives attachment to the lesser omentum.
Greater curvature: Related to the left and right gastroepiploic arteries, gives attachment to gastrophrenic, gastro-splenic ligaments, and greater omentum.
Surfaces:
Anterior surface: Related to liver, diaphragm, and anterior abdominal wall.
Posterior surface (Stomach bed): Related to transverse colon, transverse mesocolon, body of the pancreas, splenic vessels, left kidney, left suprarenal gland, spleen, and diaphragm.
Arterial Supply & Venous Drainage
Arterial Supply:
Lesser curvature: Left gastric artery (celiac trunk) and right gastric artery (hepatic artery).
Greater curvature: Short gastric arteries (splenic), left gastroepiploic artery (splenic), right gastroepiploic artery (gastro-duodenal artery from the hepatic artery).
Venous Drainage:
Drains into the portal circulation: Left gastric and right gastric veins directly into the portal vein, short gastric and left gastroepiploic veins into the splenic vein, right gastroepiploic vein into the superior mesenteric vein.
Nervous Supply and Lymph Drainage
Nervous supply: Autonomic nerves (sympathetic from the celiac plexus and greater splanchnic nerves, parasympathetic from the right and left vagus nerves).
Lymph drainage: Drains into the celiac lymph nodes, along the arteries.
Attachments
Lesser omentum: Connects the lesser curvature of the stomach with the liver's lesser curvature.
Greater omentum: Extends from the greater curvature of the stomach to the transverse colon, contains left and right gastro-epiploic vessels, lymph nodes, sympathetic fibers, and fat.