Summary ANATOMY OF THE PANCREASE

ANATOMY OF THE PANCREAS INTRODUCTION • The pancreas is a soft, finely lobulated, elongated exoendocrine gland. • The exocrine part secretes the pancreatic juice and the endocrine part secretes the hormones like insulin, etc. • The pancreatic juice helps in the digestion of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins, whereas the pancreatic hormones maintain glucose homeostasis. Cont…. • 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 lienorenal ligament. Cont…. • 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: 12–15 cm. • Width: 3–4 cm. • Thickness: 1.5–2 cm. • Weight: 80–90 g. PARTS (SUBDIVISIONS) AND RELATIONS • 1. Head (with one process—uncinate process). • 2. Neck. • 3. Body (with one process—tuber omentale). • 4. Tail. HEAD OF THE PANCREAS • It is the enlarged, disc-shaped right end of the pancreas, which lies in the concavity of the C-shaped duodenal loop in front of the L2 vertebra.   The head • 1. Three borders: Superior, inferior, and right lateral. • 2. Two surfaces: Anterior and posterior. • 3.One process: Uncinate process. (It is a hook-like process from the lower and left part of the head. • It extends toward the left behind the superior mesenteric vessels