Anatomy of the Pancreas & Duodenum
Pancreas
The pancreas has three main sections:
- Head: area of pancreas to right of left border of superior mesenteric vein.
- Body: area of pancreas between left border of superior mesenteric vein and left border of aorta.
- Tail: area of pancreas between left border of aorta and hilum of spleen.
The most common site of primaries is the head of the pancreas. The pancreas has two functional components: endocrine, to produce insulin and other hormones, and exocrine, to produce pancreatic juices for digestion. The pancreas is in direct contact with the stomach, duodenum, spleen, and major vessels of the abdomen.
- Head of pancreas
- Uncinate process
- Pancreatic notch
- Body of pancreas
- Anterior surface
- Inferior surface
- Superior margin
- Anterior margin
- Inferior margin
- Omental tuber
- Tail of pancreas
- Duodenum
Key words
- Duct of Wirsung: pancreatic duct opening into duodenum.
- Insulin: hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates carbohydrate metabolism.