a. Anat. and Path. Also 7 splenike, 7–8 -ick. [ad. L. splēnic-us, ad. Gr. σπληνικός, f. σπλήν SPLEEN sb. Cf. F. splénique (Paré), It. splenico, Sp. esplenico.]
1. Anat. Of, pertaining to, connected with, or situated in the spleen.
Freq. in splenic artery, plexus, vein, vessel.
1619. Purchas, Microcosmus, v. 40. The Liuer by the splenike branch, transferreth them to the Serjeant of the scullery the Splene.
1666. G. Harvey, Morb. Angl., xxvi. (1672), 64. Wee’l suppose the Spleen … principally obstructed in its lower parts and Splenick branch.
1667. Phil. Trans., II. 578. The Gastrick and Splenick Arteries. Ibid. (1702), XXIII. 1186. The Splenick Vein has divers Cells opening into it near its Extremities in Human Bodies.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Plexus, The Splenic Plexus sends out Branches to the left Part of the Ventricle and Panchreas.
1758. J. S., trans. Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (1771), 284. The Passage of the Sword was near the splenick Vessels.
1851. Carpenter, Man. Phys. (ed. 2), 301. The areolæ formed by the trabecular tissue, commonly known as the splenic follicles.
1872. Huxley, Physiol., V. 126. An artery called the splenic artery, which proceeds almost directly from the aorta.
b. Splenic flexure, the bend of the colon near the spleen.
1808. Barclay, Muscular Motions, 545. At the liver it exhibits the hepatic flexure; at the spleen the splenic flexure.
1879. St. George’s Hosp. Rep., 270. A stricture was found situated in the descending colon, about two inches from the splenic flexure.
2. = SPLENETIC a. 5. rare–0.
1730. in Bailey (fol.).
3. Path. Of diseases, etc.: Of or affecting the spleen; esp. splenic fever, malignant anthrax.
1867. J. Hogg, Microsc., II. i. 296, note. Splenic disease in sheep.
1868. Rep. U. S. Commissioner Agric. (1869), 5. On the breaking out of the splenic fever at the halting places of Texas cattle.
1876. Bristowe, Th. & Pract. Med., 578. The hepatic lesion which so commonly goes along with splenic enlargement. Ibid. The presence of splenic hypertrophy.
1884. Chr. Commw., 11 Dec., 120/1. The cause of splenic fever, the terrible ‘Woolsorters’ Disease.’
Hence † Splenical a. Obs.–1 Splenicness, splenetic condition or state (Bailey, vol. II. 1727).
1693. trans. Blancard’s Phys. Dict. (ed. 2), Splenica, Splenical Medicines, are such as by attenuating and volatilizing the grosser parts, remove the Distempers and Obstructions of the Spleen. [Hence in Phillips (1696).]
