Compound gland with a major exocrine (98%) and smaller endocrine part
retroperitoneal
Surface marking
The transpyloric plane defines the level of the neck of the pancreas which overlies the vertebral Column. From
this land mark head passes downward & to the right, the body & tail pass upward
& to the left
Head Superior 1st part of duodenum
Broadest part Anterior
Right to midline Gastroduodenal artery
Transverse colon+ transverse mesocolon
In C shaped Loops of small intestine
concavity of Posterior
IVC
duodenum Right renal vessels+ left renal vessels
Right crus of diaphragm
Bile duct
Inferior Third part of duodenum
Uncinate process Anterior Superior mesenteric vein and artery
Posterior Aorta
Inferior Third part of duodenum
Neck Anterior Pylorus (at transpyloric plane – L1 )
Peritoneum of lesser sac
Posterior Termination of superior mesenteric vein
Beginning of portal vein
Aorta
Body Anterior Lesser sac & Stomach
Anterior surface
Slightly triangular in covered by
peritoneum, reflected
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, cross section anteroinferiorly from
the surface
Has superior and Posterior Left renal vein
inferior border. Aorta
Ant superior, ant Origin of superior mesenteric artery
inferior and L crus
L Psoas
Posterior surfaces Hilum of left kidney
Left suprarenal gland
Inferior Duodenojejunal flexure
Superior mesenteric vessels
Splenic flexure
Superior Splenic artery runs along superior border
Coeliac artery and branches
Tail Lies in the lienorenal lig
Contact with visceral surface of spleen
Ducts – Main Pancreatic duct of Wirsung– Begins at the tail =>lies near posterior surface
Joins with bile duct =>Hepatopancreatic ampulla of Vater =>Major duodenal papilla Accessory Pancreatic duct
of Santorini – Begins at the uncinate process => Minor D. P.
Blood supply
From Coeliac trunk and Superior mesenteric artery
Mainly from splenic artery.
Head, uncinate process - superior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries.
Anterior branches of pancreaticoduodenal arteries (superior and inferior) anastomose forming anterior
pancreaticoduodenal arcade, posterior branches- posterior pancreaticoduodenal arcade
Branches of splenic artery – Dorsal pancreatic artery (mainly), Great Pancreatic artery, Artery to the tail
Dorsal pancreatic artery gives anterior and posterior branches which anastomose with
pancreaticoduodenal arcades and supply head
Venous drainage – accompany arteries.
Body and Tail Splenic vein
Head Superior pancreatico duodenal veins portal vein
Inferior pancreatico duodenal veins Superior mesenteric vein
Lymph drainage
Coeliac
Head Neck Pancreaticosplenic nodes Pre aortic nodes
Superior mesenteric
Tail and Body Nodes along splenic artery
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