PANCREAS
Introduction
The pancreas is a soft, finely lobulated,
elongated exo-endocrine gland.
The exocrine part secretes the pancreatic juice
and the endocrine part secretes the hormones,
viz.,insulin, etc.
The pancreas (in Greek pan: all, kreas: flesh).
Pancreas named because of its fleshy
appearance.
The pancreatic juice helps in the digestion of
lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins, whereas
the pancreatic hormones maintain glucose
homeostasis.
LOCATION
The pancreas lies more or less horizontally on
the posterior abdominal wall.
In the epigastric and left hypochondriac
regions.
It crosses the posterior abdominal wall
obliquely from concavity of the duodenum to
the hilum of spleen opposite the level of T12–
L3 vertebrae.
The greater part of the gland is retroperitoneal
behind the serous floor of the lesser sac.
Its left extremity—the tail, lies in the
SIZE AND SHAPE
The pancreas is “J”-shaped or retort
shaped being set obliquely.
The bowl of retort represents its head
and the stem of retort represents its
neck, body, and tail.
Its measurements are:
Length: 12–15cm.
Width: 3–4 cm.
Thickness: 1.5–2 cm.
Weight: 80–90 g.
PARTS (SUBDIVISIONS) AND RELATIONS
For descriptive purposes, the pancreas is
subdivided into four parts:
1. Head (with one process— uncinate
process).
2. Neck.
3. Body (with one process—tuber
omentale).
4. Tail.
HEAD OF THE PANCREAS & Its relations
• It is the enlarged, disc-shaped right • Superior border is related to:
end of the pancreas. 1.first part of the duodenum, and
lies in the concavity of the C-shaped
• 2.superior pancreaticoduodenal
• duodenal loop in front of the L2 vertebra.
artery.
• External Features
The head presents the following external • Inferior border is related to:
features:
1.third part of the duodenum, and
1. Three borders: Superior, inferior, and
• right lateral.
• 2.inferior pancreaticoduodenal
artery.
2. Two surfaces: Anterior andposterior.
3. One process: Uncinate process. (It is a • Right lateral border is related to:
• hook-like process from the lower and 1.second part of the duodenum, and
• left part of the head. 2.anterior and posterior
HEAD OF THE PANCREAS & Its relations
Anterior surface is related from above downward to:
Uncinate process is related to:
1. gastroduodenal artery,
1. anteriorly to superior
2. transverse colon,
mesenteric vessels,and
3. root of the transverse mesocolon,and 2. posteriorly to the
4. jejunum. abdominal aorta.
Posterior surface is relatedto:
1. IVC,
2. left renal vein,
3. bile duct (lying in a groove, and may be found
embedded in the pancreatic tissue),and
4. right crus of diaphragm.
HEAD OF THE PANCREAS & Its relations.
Anterior Relations
Posterior Relations
NECK OF THE PANCREAS & Its Relations
It is a slightly constricted part of the gland which connects the head with the body.
It is about 2.5 cm (1 inch) long and is directed forward, upward, and to the left.
External Features:
Two surfaces: Anterior and posterior.
Two borders: Upper and lower.
Relations:
Anterior surface is related topylorus.
Posterior surface is related to commencement of the portal vein.
Upper border is related to the first part of the duodenum.
Lower border is related to the root of the transverse mesocolon.
Posterior relations of the neck of
pancreas.
BODY OF THE PANCREAS
It is the elongated part of the gland extending from its neck to the tail.
It passes toward the left of midline with a slight upward and backward inclination.
It lies in front of the vertebral column at or just below the transpyloric plane.
External Features
1. It is somewhat triangular in cross section and presents:
2. Three borders: Anterior, superior, and inferior.
3. Three surfaces: Anterior, posterior, and inferior.
4. One process: Tuber omentale (a part of the body projects above the lesser curvature
of the stomach and comes in contact with the lesser omentum across the lesser sac).
BODY OF THE PANCREAS & ITS
RELATIONS..
Anterior border provides the attachment to theroot of Posterior surface (devoid of peritoneum) is
transverse mesocolon. related to:
1. aorta and origin of the superior
Superior border is related to the coeliac artery above mesenteric artery,
the tuber omentale, hepatic artery to the right, and 2. left kidney and left suprarenal glands,
splenic artery to the left of tuber omentale. and
Inferior border is related to superior mesenteric 3. splenic vein usually lies in a groove
vessels (at its right end). below the level of
4. splenic artery.
Anterior surface (concave and directed forward and Inferior surface (covered by peritoneum) is
upward) is related to: related to:
1. lesser sac,and 1. duodenojejunal flexure,
2. coils of jejunum, and
2. stomach. 3. left colic flexure.
Relations of the body of pancreas: A, anterior
and inferior
relations; B, posterior relations.
TAIL OF THE PANCREAS
It is the narrow left extremity of the pancreas.
It lies in the lienorenal ligament along with splenicvessels.
It is mobile unlike the other major retroperitoneal parts of the gland.
It contains the largest number of islets of Langerhans per unit of tissue as
compared to other parts of the gland.
Relations
These are related to the visceral surface of spleen between gastric
impression and colic impression.
Visceral relations of the different parts of the pancreas.
DUCTS OF THE PANCREAS
Usually there are two ducts: main and accessory, which drain the exocrine secretion into the duodenum.
MAIN PANCREATIC DUCT (OF WIRSUNG):
1. It begins in the tail and traverses the whole length of the gland near its posteriorsurface.
2. At the neck, it turns downward, and then to the right to enter into the second part of duodenum.
3. It joins the bile duct as it pierces the duodenal wall to form the hepatopancreatic ampulla (of Vater) which opens by a
narrow mouth on the summit of major duodenal papilla 8–10 cm distal to the pylorus.
4.It receives tributaries (smaller ducts) throughout its length, at right angle to its long axis in a “herringbone pattern.”
ACCESSORY PANCREATIC DUCT (OF SANTORINI):
5. It begins in the lower part of the head, and then runs upward and medially, crossing in front of main pancreatic duct.
6. It opens into the second part of the duodenum on the summit of minor duodenal papilla about 2–3 cm above the
opening of main pancreatic duct (6–8 cm distal to pylorus).
Pancreatic ducts.
ARTERIAL SUPPLY
Splenic artery, a branch of coeliac trunk: The splenic artery is the branch of coeliac trunk and it is the main
source of blood supply to the pancreas.
Its branches supply the body and tail of pancreas.
Two branches are named.
One large branch which arises near the tail and runs toward the neck is called arteria pancreatica
magna.
Another relatively small branch, which runs toward the tip of the tail, is termed arteria caudae
pancreatica.
Superior pancreaticoduodenal artery: The superior pancreaticoduodenal artery is a branch of
gastroduodenal artery.
Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery: The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery is a branch of superior
mesenteric artery.
Arterial supply of the pancreas.
VENOUS DRAINAGE:
NERVE SUPPLY
portal vein, 1. The sympathetic and parasympathetic
superior mesenteric vein, nerve fibres reach the gland along its
splenic vein. arteries from coeliac and superior
mesenteric plexuses.
LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE:
2. The sympathetic supply is vasomotor
1. Pancreaticosplenic nodes (main whereas the parasympathetic supply
group). controls the pancreatic secretion.
2. Coeliac nodes.
3. Superior mesenteric nodes.
4. Pyloric nodes.
CLINICAL ANATOMY
Carcinoma of the head of pancreas is common.
It compresses the bile duct leading to persistent obstructive jaundice. It may press the
portal vein or may involve the stomach due to close vicinity of these structures to the
head of pancreas.
Acute pancreatitis is the acute inflammation of the pancreas.
It occurs due to obstruction of pancreatic duct, ingestion of alcohol, viral infections
(mumps), or trauma.
It is serious condition because activated pancreatic enzymes leak into the substance of
pancreas and initiates the autodigestion of the gland.
Clinically, it presents as very severe pain in the epigastric region radiating to the back,
fever, nausea, and vomiting.
