Curved, ~15cm long. Transv mesocolon attaches just above inferior border \ most of gland is in supracolic compartment.
2 buds, ventral & dorsal from respective mesogastria.
Ventral ¨ lower head & uncinate process, dorsal ¨ rest.
Moulded to C of duodenal loop. Overlies IVC and renal veins. Uncinate process projects from L inferior margin behind SM vessels.
Is about 3-4cm thick; vs 1-2cm for body.
2 Ducts pass thro head: accessory duct (of
Santorini) =
minor papilla; main duct (of
Wirsung)
=
major papilla 2cm further distal.
Main papilla usually 7cm distal to pylorus but may be at
junction of D2
& D3, or in D3.
- minor papilla usually 2cm proximal and more anteriorly.
CBD and PD have common channel within duodenal wall to from ampulla of Vater in 70%; open separately into duodenum in 5%.
- run in
parallel for 2-10cm before uniting.
PD begins 2.5cm from tail (diam 0.5mm) ¨
body
diam 1.5-3mm ¨
head diam 3.5mm.
PD: commonest arrangement = accessory duct communicating with both duodenum & main PD (40%). Acc. duct may lose communication with duodenum (40%) or with PD.
In remainder, accessory duct is main duct.
Posteriorly: IVC, renal veins, CBD (latter
may run within
gland itself), posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery.
To L posteriorly lies
portal vein & its formation by
SMV and splenic vein.
Anteriorly: hepatic flexure (which is
acquiring a mesentery),
anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery, inferior
pancreaticoduodenal
vein.
- mobiliing pancreatic head off gland can cause tear to R
colic veins communicating with the SMV at the head of the
pancreas.
Arterial supply mainly from coeliac axis;
some SMA.
Vessels approach duodenum from
concavity of its C-shape \ mobilisation off IVC and aorta is
bloodless.
Gives off post superior p-d before terminal branching into anterior superior p-d and R gastroepiploic vessels.
From SMA --> anterior & post branches
which anastomose with
their superior counterparts, forming arcades supplying duodenum
and pancreatic head.
--> avoid dissecting in plane between the pancreatic head and
duodenum or may devascularize duodenum.
R Hepatic arises from SMA in 10% ¨ runs up behind head of pancreas.
High origin of middle colic artery, which may even emerge from pancreas itself ¨ at risk.
Veins correspond to arteries but mode of emptying variable. Inferior p-d veins most at risk operatively; may drain into side of SMV. Middle colic vein drains into SMV where that passes behind neck of pancreas \ forms guide to SMV.
Neck overlies formation of portal vein (SMV +
splenic). Body & tail
incline up, back & to L.
Tail can be tucked into hilum of spleen, when at risk during
ligations for splenectomy.
Stomach overlies this section, can be accessed by going
through lesser omentum and elevating stomach posteriorly
Posteriorly: origin of SMA, splenic vein (which may be within pancreatic tissue). Splenic vein can be located by tracing up IMV.
Dorsal pancreatic artery from coeliac trunk
or splenic
artery ¨
R branch to head &
uncinate
process, L
branch to rest.
2-10 branches arise from splenic
artery; one of these is larger (at middle-distal thirds) =
arteria pancreatica magna ('great pancreatic artery' though
smaller than dorsal
artery).
Numerous small veins drain into splenic which
are vulnerable
in dissection of splenic vein in pancreas-preserving splenectomy
Inferior pancreatic vein courses along bottom of gland; runs
with the artery of same names.
Tail --> splenic hilar nodes
Body & Head --> nodes corresponding to arterial supply.
- so Ca HOP
can spread to nodes along the SMA.
Pain Fibres
Afferent pathways probaly run with
sympathetic supply; interconnect through celiac and SM plexi
Often ablation of these pathways is unsuccessful, suggesting
other patways active.
Other points
Annular Pancreas
Congential abnormality with a ring of pancreas around
duodenum
Can compress it; duodenoduodenostomy
warranted.