Haematology summray 10

Chapter 10 in Haematology (spleen) summary

-The normal dult spleen wight 150*250g and is 5-13 cm in diameter. It has a specialized circulation because the majority of arterioles end in "cords" which lack an endothelial lining. The blood re-entres the circulation via venous sinuses. The cords and sinuses form the red pulp which monitors the inegrity of red blood cells.

-The central arterioles are surrounded by lynphoid tissue called white pulp which is similar in structure to a lymph node.

-The spleen removes aged or abnormal red cells, and excess DNA ans siderotic granules, from intact red cells. It also has a specialized immune function against capsulated bacteria, pneumococcus,haemophilus influenza and meningococcus to which splenectomy is needed for splenic rupture and in some haematological diseases.

-Enlargement of the spleen  (splenomegaly) occurs in many amlignant and benign haematologicaldiseases,in portal hypertension and with systemic diseases, including acute and chronic infections.hyposplenism occurs in sickle cell anamia, gluten-induced enteropathy and rarely in other diseases.

 

From book: Essentail Haematology A.V.HOFFBRAND,P.A.H.MOSS.6EDITION