Specimen Image
- Location: The fetal spleen is located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen, near the left kidney and behind the stomach.
- Size: The size of the fetal spleen can vary depending on the stage of development. At around 8 weeks, the spleen is about the size of a pea, but it grows rapidly and is approximately the size of a golf ball by 16 weeks.
- Blood supply: The fetal spleen receives its blood supply from the splenic artery, which arises from the celiac trunk.
- Structure: The fetal spleen is composed of two types of tissue: red pulp and white pulp. The red pulp is responsible for filtering blood and removing old or damaged red blood cells, while the white pulp is involved in immune function.
- Developmental changes: The fetal spleen undergoes significant changes in its structure and function as it develops. For example, as the liver takes over the production of red blood cells in the third trimester, the fetal spleen's role in hematopoiesis decreases.
- Associated conditions: Certain conditions can affect the development or function of the fetal spleen, such as splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen), asplenia (absence of the spleen), or polysplenia (presence of multiple spleens).
Rack Number
Specimen Number
19