Abstract

Background: The vertebrate spleen has important functions in immunity and haematopoiesis, many of which have been well studied. In contrast, we know very less about the mechanisms governing its early embryonic development. There is little research on morphomertric analysis of spleen in human fetal cadavers. Aims and objectives: The present study was carried out to determine the location and dimensions of human fetal spleen. Material and methods: The study was carried out on 50 dead human fetal spleens (30 males and 20 females), aged between 9 - 32 weeks of gestation. The location of spleen and its relation with the neighboring structures, notches on borders, major ligaments and the shape of spleen and its hilum were studied. The length, width, thickness, and weight of the spleen were measured. Results: The average length, width and thickness of fetal spleen of gestational age between 12 to 16 weeks were 7.65mm, 4.71mm, 2.93mm. respectively and mean weight was.065gm. In >16 to 20 weeks, mean length was 10.9mm, width was 7.05mm, thickness was 5mm. respectively and weight was 0.461gm. In >20 to 24 weeks, mean length was 13.45mm,width was 8.38m , thickness was 5.72mm. and weight was.580gm. In >24 to 28 weeks, mean length was 19.8mm, width was 12.43mm, thickness was 8.67mm.and weight was .997gm. In >28 weeks gestational age , mean length was 26.5mm, width was 13.5mm, thickness was 9.2mm.and weight was 1.91gm. Spleen was found to be of three different shapes - leaf shaped (two faced), wedge shaped (three faced) and pyramid shaped (four faced). In 44 cases (88%) it was wedge shaped, in four cases (8%) it was two faced and in two cases (4%) it was pyramid shaped. Conclusion: The expression of morphometric parameters of the spleen at different gestational ages can be used in determining various pathologies of the spleen and may also contribute to future studies on this subject.

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