The Hilum of the Spleen Displayed in the Anterior Plane

Description

Entering the medial surface of the spleen, the splenic hilum appears as an elongated depression where the splenic artery approaches and the splenic vein exits, both coursing within the splenorenal (lienorenal) ligament toward the pancreas and left kidney. From an anterior plane, the superior pole sits cranial to the hilum while the inferior pole tapers caudally, and the diaphragmatic (lateral) surface curves away from the viewer. Gastric impressions lie anteromedial to the hilum, with the colic impression positioned more inferiorly along the visceral surface. Short gastric vessels and the left gastro-omental (gastroepiploic) vessels are implied along the greater curvature side, linking the hilum to the gastrosplenic ligament. Attention to the splenic hilum matters because it is the surgical choke point for vascular control during splenectomy, partial splenectomy, and splenic artery ligation, where proximity to the pancreatic tail raises the risk of iatrogenic pancreatitis or pancreatic fistula. This anterior presentation also supports teaching segmental vascular anatomy, since splenic artery branching at or near the hilum underpins wedge resection planning after blunt trauma. Small mistakes here bleed fast. Use this asset in operative anatomy chapters, trauma surgery modules, and radiology correlation pages discussing splenic laceration grading and hilar vascular injury, as well as in gross anatomy teaching on peritoneal ligaments and visceral impressions of the left upper quadrant. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.