Sutures and Wound Repair/ General Surgery (ABSA) Practice Test

Which artery supplies blood to the spleen?"

1. Renal artery

2. Splenic artery

3. Hepatic artery

4. Mesenteric artery

The correct answer is: Splenic artery

The splenic artery is the primary blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the spleen. It branches off from the celiac trunk, which arises from the abdominal aorta. The splenic artery travels along the superior border of the pancreas before reaching the spleen, where it further branches into smaller arteries that penetrate the splenic tissue. This blood supply is crucial for the spleen's functions, which include filtering blood, recycling iron from hemoglobin, and playing a role in immune responses. The renal artery supplies the kidneys, the hepatic artery supplies the liver, and the mesenteric artery supplies the intestines, making them irrelevant in the context of blood supply to the spleen. The specificity of the splenic artery in this role highlights its importance in maintaining the health and functionality of the spleen.