Histomorphometric study of the human spleen.
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Date
2012-10
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Abstract
Context: The spleen is the largest single mass of lymphoid tissue in all vertebrates. Histological changes are
evident in advancing age along with functional capability of the human spleen. A cross-sectional, descriptive
type of study was done in the Department of Anatomy, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, from January
to December 2008, to see the age related microscopic changes in the human spleen. Methods: 30 human
spleens were collected from the unclaimed dead bodies that were under examination in the Department of
Forensic Medicine of Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka. The samples were divided into three age-groups
including group A (15-29 years), group B (30-49 years) & group C (50-69 years). Then 5 best prepared histological
slides from each group were taken and examined under the light compound microscope to determine
the thickness of capsule, diameter, number and percent amount of white pulp in the human spleen.
Results: The thickness of the splenic capsule were found 84.60±7.97 ?m, 117.92±4.16 ?m, and 132.17±6.37
?m in group A, B and C respectively. The diameter of the white pulp were found 0.32±0.01 mm, 0.32±0.01
mm and 0.31±0.01 mm, while the number of white pulp per sq. mm were 2.28±1.04, 2.38±0.93 and
2.04±0.76 in group A, B and C respectively. Moreover, the amounts of the white pulp were determined
23.09±1.38, 24.45±1.84 and 22.54±1.08 in group A, B and C respectively. The difference in thickness of the
splenic capsule was statistically significant among the study groups (p<0.001). However, no difference was
found in diameter, number and percentage of the white pulp of the spleen among those age groups.
Conclusion: The thickness of the capsule of the spleen was found to increase with advancing age in humans.
However, no age change was evident in diameter, number or amount of the white pulp.
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Keywords
Histomorphometry, spleen, capsule of spleen, white pulp of spleen
Citation
Alim A, Nurunnabi A S M, Mahbub S, Ara S. Histomorphometric study of the human spleen. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science. 2012; 11(4): 298-302.