Which organs are related to the spleen?

• A. Stomach, Colon, Left Kidney, Tail of Pancreas
• B. Stomach, Colon, Right Kidney, Tail of Pancreas
• C. Stomach, Pancreas, Left Kidney, Tail of Pancreas
• D. Heart, Lungs, Spleen

Answer: (A)

The spleen sits in the left upper quadrant and is held in place by peritoneal ligaments that connect it to nearby organs. Its closest neighbors are the stomach, the splenic flexure of the colon, the tail of the pancreas, and the left kidney. The stomach is connected to the spleen by the gastrosplenic ligament, which brings with it vessels that supply the stomach. The left kidney and the tail of the pancreas are connected through the splenorenal ligament, with the tail of the pancreas actually lying within this ligament near the splenic vessels and hilum. The splenic flexure of the colon is related via the splenocolic ligament. Because these direct peritoneal relationships define the spleen’s anatomy, the organs most accurately described as related are the stomach, colon (splenic flexure), left kidney, and tail of the pancreas.