The pancreas has four parts - the head, neck, body, and tail. It is mostly retroperitoneal, except for the tail which is in the splenorenal ligament. The pancreatic duct begins in the tail and runs through the pancreas to join the common bile duct before entering the duodenum. The pancreas receives its blood supply from branches of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries.

1. Pancreas

2. Site :
on the posterior abdominal wall at
approximately L1 level.
Parts :
head, neck, body and tail.
❖ It is retroperitoneal with the exception of
the tail, which lies in the splenorenal
ligament.
❖ It is over 15 cm long and lies transversely
and slightly obliquely, with the tail higher
than the head.
Pancreas

3. PARTS OF PANCREAS :
❖ The head lies in the curve of the duodenum.
❖ The uncinate process projects posteriorly.
❖ The common bile duct passes posterior to
the head of the pancreas .
❖ The neck extends from the upper part of the
anterior portion of the head. It lies anterior to
the union of the splenic vein and the superior
mesenteric vein to form the portal vein.
❖ The body curves over the vertebrae and great
vessels .
❖ The tail is related to the splenic hilum. Here it
lies in the splenorenal ligament.

5. PANCREATIC DUCT :
❖ The pancreatic duct begins in the tail by
the union of ductules .
❖ It passes transversely towards the head .
❖ It receives smaller ducts along its length
at right-angles and increases in size
as it approaches the head .
❖ At the neck the duct turns inferiorly
somewhat posteriorly and to the right
❖ and joins the bile duct to form a terminal
common dilated portion called the
ampulla (of Vater) before entering the
duodenum at the papilla.

6. ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF THE PANCREAS
❖ The pancreas is supplied by branches of
the coeliac and superior mesenteric
arteries.
❖ The coeliac supplies branches via its
hepatic and splenic arteries .
❖ The gastroduodenal artery, arising from
the hepatic artery , divides into the right
gastro epiploic artery and the superior
pancreaticoduodenal artery.
❖ The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery
arises from the right side of the superior
mesenteric artery .
❖ It divides early into anterior and
posterior branches that anastomose with
those of the superior
pancreaticoduodenal artery.

7. VENOUS DRAINAGE OF THE
PANCREAS
The neck, body and tail of the
pancreas drain to the splenic
vein and the head drains to the
superior mesenteric and portal
veins.

8. RADIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE
PANCREAS :
Plain films of the abdomen :
The pancreas is not visible unless calcified.
Ultrasound of the pancreas :
This is possible when it is not obscured by
overlying stomach and transverse colonic
gas

9. COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY :
❖ As a result of its oblique position, the pancreas must be
studied on sequential CT slices .
❖ The tail is visible at the splenic hilum on the
highest slices and the uncinate process is the
lowest part
❖ Normal thickness of the head is 2 cm, the neck 0. 5 : 1
cm and the body and tail 1-2 cm The height of the head
is very variable and may measure up to 8 cm The
body and tail may measure 3-4 cm in Height .
❖ The normal pancreatic duct is visible in most
cases
❖ The formation of the portal vein is seen
behind the neck and the mesenteric vessels
are seen to pass anterior to the uncinate
Process .

11. MRI Pancreas
❖ MR pancreatography depicts the
normal ductal system as well as
congenital variations
higher signal intensity on T 1 weighted imaging

12. ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRAD CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY
(ERCP)

13. ANGIOGRAPHY OF THE PANCREAS