Gross Anatomical and Histomorphometrical Studies on the Spleen of Rhesus Monkey (Macaca Mulatta)

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the anatomy and histomorphometry of spleen of monkey. Grossly, the spleen was greyish in colour and elongated in outline. Histologically, spleen was covered by capsule with thickness of 76.31 ± 6.56 μ and had two layers. Outer layer of capsule was composed of mostly collagen fibres and inner zone had predominantly smooth muscle fibers. From capsule trabeculae extended into the splenic parenchyma in form of bands dividing the parenchyma incompletely. Thickness of trabeculae ranged from 33.82 μ to 45.04 μ with mean value of 40.94 ± 1.77 μ. Sub-capsular and peri-trabecular sinuses were distinct.
Splenic parenchyma was composed of white pulp and red pulp. The white pulp of spleen was composed of splenic nodule or lymphatic nodule and peri-arterial lymphatic sheath (PALS). The clear demarcation between white and red pulp was observed. The maximum and minimum diameter of splenic nodule was 296.71 ± 17.33 μ and 234.09 ± 19.81 μ, respectively. Eccentricity (E value) of splenic nodule was 0.37 ± 0.06 indicating more spherical shape. The number of splenic nodules per field at 40X was 12.67 ± 0.67. The spaces between white pulp and trabeculae were filled by red pulp which consisted of splenic sinuses and cords.