This study guide will take you through the essential parts of the pancreas as an organ performing both the endocrine and exocrine functions. It contains the main topics like vasculature, lymphatics, anatomical position, histology and functionality.
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UM1010: Intergrated Science & Clinical Medicine
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Pancreas icons (image): Flaticon.com. This has been designed
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• What is the pancreas and what are its functions?
• Where is the pancreas generally located
• Which organs do we usually associate with the pancreas?
• What are some conditions that affect the pancreas?
The pancreas is an organ with both endocrine and exocrine functions. Roughly 12-15cm long, it
looks like corn, planted in the C-shaped part of the duodenum and growing up. This guide will
take you through the anatomical position of the pancreas, a brief look at its embryological
development, macro and micro anatomy of the structures, its blood supply, functions and
different clinical applications.
• The pancreas Is oblong-shaped organ at the level of the transpyloric plane (L1). It is
divided into the uncinate process, head, body and tail.
• It is mostly retroperitoneal but the tail (which goes on to be attached to the spleen) is
intraperitoneal.
o It is located in the left hypochondriac and epigastric regions
• The pancreas has relations with different nearby organs/structures:
o Stomach → pylorus of the stomach is anterior to the pancreas
o Duodenum → c-shape curves around the pancreatic head
o Transverse colon – attaches to the anterior pancreatic surface
o Common bile duct – located behind the head fo the pancreas
o Spleen – by the lienorenal ligament
• The pancreas has clusters of endocrine cells called pancreatic islets – think of these as
pancreatic cell “islands”.
• The islets are made up of the alpha and beta cells → these fulfil the endocrine function
• Pancreatic cells will secrete into ducts within their acinar arrangement (a cavity
bordered by secretory cells) – acinar units play a role in the digestive function
(exocrine)
o These smaller ducts join up to form the bigger main pancreatic duct that runs
through the tail to the head of the pancreas. The accessory pancreatic duct is
also present.
o Both of these ducts will have openings through papillae into the duodenum,
with the minor pancreatic duct corresponding to the minor duodenal pailla, and
the major duct into the major duodenal papilla.
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