Pancreas

From WikiLectures

The pancreas is an organ capable of secreting hormones in both endocrine and exocrine fashion. It has several macroscopic parts - head, uncinate processus, neck, body and tail.

Structure[edit | edit source]

Duodenumandpancreas.jpg

Pancreatic Duct[edit | edit source]

  • It begins at the tail and joins the bile duct at the head, forming the Ampulla of Vater.
  • The Ampulla of Vater enters the descending part of the duodenum at the major duodenal papilla.
  • The accessory pancreatic duct enters the duodenum through the minor duodenal papilla.

Islets of Langerhans[edit | edit source]

The Islets are a group of cells that create and store the hormones:-

  • Alpha cells – glucagon.
  • Beta cells – insulin.
  • Delta cells – somatostatin.
Searchtool right.svg For more information see Pancreatic Hormones.

Syntopy[edit | edit source]

Pancreas lies in retroperitoneal space. The head of the pancreas lies next to the duodenum. From the lower part of the head is the uncinate process, which passes posteriorly to the superior mesenteric vessels . The neck is anterior to the superior mesenteric vessels. The portal vein behind the neck is formed by the superior mesenteric and splenic vein. The tail passes between the layers of the spleno-renal ligament.

Arterial supply[edit | edit source]

  • supply of the upper half of pancreas – superior pancreaticoduodenal artery from truncus coeliacus
  • supply of the lower half – inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery from superior mesenteric artery


Links[edit | edit source]

Related Articles[edit | edit source]

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

SNELL, Richard S. Clinical Anatomy by Regions. 8th Edition edition. 2004. ISBN 978-0-7817-6404-9.