Gross Morphological Peculiarities of Spleen of Sheep (Ovis aries)

Abstract

The present study was conducted on spleens obtained from 30 cadavers of adult sheep who were free from any disease of immune system. , the spleen was single, largest lymphoid ductless gland, situated in the left hypochondriac region between the diaphragm and dorsal sac of rumen. It was placed under the 13th to 10th rib. The spleen was somewhat triangular and bluish red to dark purple in colour. The average weight, volume, length, width and thickness of spleen was 39.576 ± 2.034 gm, 30.16 ± 1.50 ml, 10.03 ± 0.10 cm, 4.29 ± 0.35, 1.061 ± 0.33 cm respectively. The spleen was laterally flattened and had 2 surfaces, 3 borders and 3 angles. Visceral surface was concave and its anterior half was firmly attached to the dorsal curvature of the rumen. The convex parietal surface was lying against the diaphragm to which its anterior third was attached. The hilus was in the form of rounded depression on the visceral surface close to the dorsal end of the cranial border. The spleen was fixed in position by two ligaments formed by peritoneal reflection.