Veterinary Anatomy Studio
Developed at ICAR–IVRI, Bareilly
Structured veterinary anatomy notes for B.V.Sc., M.V.Sc. and DVM students—from structure to function.
Educational resource developed at the Veterinary Anatomy Section, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI), Bareilly.
The spleen is a flat, elongated, oblong organ measuring ~50 × 12 cm in the adult cow. Its colour is bluish-grey to brown. It lies entirely on the left side of the abdomen, sandwiched between the dorsal sac of the rumen (visceral surface) and the diaphragm (parietal surface), under cover of the last few ribs (approximately 10th to 13th).
Attachments: Gastrosplenic ligament (to rumen), phrenicosplenic ligament (to diaphragm), renosplenic ligament (to left kidney). The spleen does not contact the left abdominal wall directly because of the rumen.
Vessels: Splenic artery (from celiac artery) and splenic vein (drains into portal system).
Functions: Storage of erythrocytes (especially in horse), removal of senescent RBCs, hematopoiesis in fetal life, antigen filtration via white pulp.
| OX | Flat, oblong, dorsally placed on left under last ribs. Hilus near dorsal border. |
| HORSE | Sickle/triangular shape. Very large reservoir of RBCs (~12 L). Located in left flank — palpable per rectum. |
| DOG | Elongated tongue-shape; very mobile. Common site of hemangiosarcoma in older large breeds (Golden Retriever, GSD). |
| PIG | Long, narrow, strap-like spleen. |
Explore the hidden mechanics of why structures are present, absent or modified across domestic and wildlife species—and how each anatomical design supports movement, function and clinical practice.
Explanation goes here.