Pancreas Exocrine = has ducts.

Secretion contains
enzymes for hydrolysis of carbs, fats and
• Exocrine and endocrine gland proteins
Endocrine: straight into bloodstream. Pancreatic
islets (islets of Langerhans) produces insulin
and glucagon – carbs metabolism
• Elongated structure
• Lies in the epigastrum and left upper quadrant
• Soft, lobulated, retropetineal organ
• Crosses the transpyloric plane @ L1
• Pancreatic cancer is aggressive. Survival rate is very low. Pancreatitis pain is the
most severe.

Pancreas is divided into:

Head Neck Body Tail

Disk-shaped Constricted portion Triangular in cross Pass forward in
Lies within the Connect head and body section splenicorenal
concavity (C-shaped) of In front of the beginning of Runs upward and to ligament
the duodenum portal vein and the origin of the left In contact with
Extends to the left the superior mesenteric hilum of spleen
behind the sup. mes. artery from the arteries
vessels

ANTERIOR RELATIONS POSTERIOR RELATIONS (from right

(from right to left) to left)
PANCREAS
o Transverse colon & o Bile duct
mesocolon o Portal & splenic vein
o Lesser sac (a o IVC
small/potential peritoneal o Aorta
pocket behind the o Origin of superior
stomach) mesenteric artery (L1)
o Left psoas muscle
o Left suprarenal gland
o Left kidney
o Hilum of spleen
MAIN PANCREATIC DUCT ACCESSORY PANCREATIC DUCT
(OF WIRSNRY) PANCREATIC (OF SANTORINI)
Begins at the tail When present, drains the upper
DUCT
Runs along the length of the pancreas part of the head
Receives numerous tributaries Opens into the duodenum a
Opens to the 2nd part of duodenum & about its middle short distance above the main
w the bile duct on the major duodenal papilla. duct on the minor duodenal
papilla
Blood supply veins Lymph nodes Nerve supply
Splenic artery Corresponding to Situated along the Sympathetic and
Superior & inferior the arteries, arteries that supply Parasympathetic
pancreaticoduoden Drain to the portal the gland (vagal) nerve
al system The efferent vessels
arteries ultimately drain into
the celiac and
superior mesenteric
lymph nodes