VESSELS OF THE SPLEEN. 109 



gland. The splenic artery, before it arrives at the spleen, 

 divides into five or six branches, which are also undulating in 

 their progress, and penetrate into the body of the viscus at the 

 above mentioned fissure. These branches are distributed to 

 every part of the viscus, and ramify minutely. 



From these branches, or from the main trunk before it rami- 

 fies, three or four smaller branches proceed to the left extre- 

 mity of the stomach. They are called vasa brevia or arterise 

 breves. 



The arteries which enter the spleen are accompanied by 

 veins that emerge from it, and unite to form a great trunk. 

 This trunk observes a course corresponding to that of the 

 splenic artery, and receives veins from the stomach and pan- 

 creas, which correspond with the arterial branches sent to those 

 organs. The splenic vein is one of the principal branches of the 

 vena portarum. 



The splenic artery is very large in proportion to the viscus 

 to which it is sent, and the vein is unusually large in proportion 

 to the artery. The vein is also very tender and delicate in its 

 structure. 



The absorbent vessels of the spleen are very numerous. It 

 has been asserted, that when those of the external coat of the 

 spleen are injected, they are sufficient to form a fine net-work 

 on it. The absorbents of the deep-seated parts unite to the 

 superficial at the fissure where the blood-vessels enter. They 

 terminate in the thoracic duct, after passing through several 

 lymphatic glands. 



The nerves of the spleen are derived from the solar plexus : 

 they form a plexus around the vessels, and accompany them 

 through the viscus. 



The spleen consists of a substance which is much softer than 

 that of any other viscus of the abdomen. This substance is 

 made up either wholly or in great part of the ramifications of 

 the splenic artery and vein, which are demonstrated by injec- 

 tions to be very minute and numerous in this body. There are 

 also many fine white cords, like threads, which pass from the 

 internal surface x)f the inner coat of the spleen in its soft sub- 



VOL. II. 10 



