The architecture of the splenic artery in the adult man.

The spacial arrangement of the muscular, elastic and collagen fibers was examined in 27 splenic arteries (SA) of adults, 15 of these being males. There were realized, histologic and panorganographic sections, that received adequate staining according to their thickness, by one or most of the following methods: Azan, resorcin-fuchsin (Weigert), Verhoeff-Van Gieson, Sudan III or Masson trichome. Pellicle or total preparations were treated by alum carmine, Van Gieson, resorcin-fuchsin or nitric acid. Any sections and total preparations without staining were examined by polarized light. The finding shows a spiral disposition, without polarization, of the muscular and collagen bundles of the SA. The elastic fibers have different arrangements in the tunics of the SA. Support bundles are present in the proximal and distal extremities of the artery. The vessel dynamic is discussed in function of the spacial arrangement of the muscular, elastic and collagen elements, in relation to the support bundles and also the mechanic function of the spleen.