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Abstract

Introduction: The spleen, an essential organ of the lymphatic and immune systems, is highly vascularized and performs vital functions, including filtering blood, recycling iron, and managing immune responses.
Objective: To analyze the morphometric characteristics, branching patterns, and anatomical variations of the segmental branches of the splenic artery in human cadaver spleens through dissection.
Methodology: This descriptive observational study was conducted at the department of Anatomy, Gomal Medical College, Dera Ismail Khan during May 2024 to April 2025. Data were collected from 55 human cadaver spleens. Cadaver spleens were collected from a medical anatomy lab, ensuring they were preserved in 10% formalin to maintain structural integrity. Inclusion criteria required cadavers to be free of any apparent pathological conditions, traumatic injuries, or vascular anomalies that could interfere with the dissection process.
Results: Data were collected from 55 human cadaver spleens. Splenic artery most commonly divided into three primary segmental branches, observed in 58% (n=32) of the cadavers. Two branches were identified in 30% (n=17) of the cases, while four branches were seen in 12% (n=6). The mean diameter of the branches was 2.6 ± 0.5 mm, and the mean length was 42 ± 8 mm. The superior branches supplied 45 ± 3% of the splenic parenchyma, while the inferior branches accounted for 40 ± 4%. Anatomical variations were present in 18% of the cadavers, including accessory arteries (12%) and unusual origins of branches (6%).
Conclusion: It is concluded that the segmental branches of the splenic artery exhibit considerable variability in their branching patterns, dimensions, and anatomical configurations. The most common pattern observed was three primary segmental branches, supplying distinct vascular territories with minimal overlap.