**2. Anatomy**

Wandering spleen is caused by failed fusion of the dorsal peritoneum, or absence or abnormal development of its suspensory ligaments that hold the spleen in its normal position in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen.

The splenic ligaments are the gastrosplenic, splenorenal (splenopancreatic), splenophrenic, splenocolic ligaments. (Couinaud, 1963)

Embryologically, the splenic ligaments develop in the coeliac artery territory, from the primitive dorsal mesentery (mesogastrium), which is responsible for the formation of peritoneum, the greater omentum and the several peritoneal folds. However, developmental anomalies or variations may take place. These variations in the embryologic development of the spleen's primary supporting ligaments could explain the wandering spleen.

These ligaments may be absent, may be too long or too short, too wide or too narrow, or abnormally fused.
