SPLEEN

n. Splen. Gr., . Lat., lien, splen. Fr., rate. Qer., MHz. 1. A soft, vascular organ, usually cla ed among the ductle glands, about five inches in length, four in breadth, and an inch in thickne and somewhat flattened or concavo-convex when removed from the body. When in situ it is concavo-convex and embraces the cardia. Its internal and concave side contains a vertical fi ure (the hilum) through which the splenic ve els and nerves pa . It lies between the s omach and the diaphragm. The peritonaeum covers it externally except where it is reflected to the stomach and diaphragm. Beneath the peritonaeum is a layer of fibrous ti ue which surrounds the splenic ve els and sends numerous proce es within the organ, forming a supporting framework inclosing the Malpighian corpuscles and true splenic ti ue. To it has been ascribed the formation of the red and white blood-corpuscles and of a ferment which plays a part in pancreatic digestion. [L, 31, 142, 172, 332.] 2. Anger; hypochondriasis; melancholy. [B.] Acce ory s. Lat., lien acce orius (seu succenturiatus). Ger., Nebenmilz. A nodule (of which there may be a number) of splenic ti ue in the vicinity of the spleen. [L, 332.] Bacon s. A form of amyloid degeneration affecting the s. The organ is enlarged and firm, (like the sago s.) but, on section, patches or islands of ti ue are seen which resemble the fat of fried bacon. [D, 48.] Floating s. Lat., lien mobilis. Fr.,rateflottante. Ger., Wandermilz, vers chi ebb are MHz. An anomalous condition of the s. in which the organ is movable, generally enlarged, and no longer protected by the ribs in the left hypochondriac region, and lies on the brim of the pelvis or even in the right side of the abdomen. This condition is more frequently observed in women than in men. [A, 326 (a, 21).] Indian s. The hypertrophied or indurated s. observed in Anglo-Indians. [" Med. Pre and Circ.," 1871, p. 45 (a, 34).] Lardaceous s. Lat., lien, lardaceus (seu cereus). Enlargement of the s. from the presence of lardaceous matter. Cf. Lardaceous DEGENERATION. Sago s. Ger., Fischroggenmilz. Amyloid degeneration of the follicles of the s. presenting on section the appearance of sago grains, [a, 34.] Waxy s. See Lardaceous s. [s. 523]