The pancreas is an organ that has an oblong elongated shape. It is customary to allocate three departments:
- head;
- body;
- tail.
The head is the widest part of the organ, it is girdled with the duodenum. This department is located between the I and II lumbar vertebrae. At the border of the head and body of the pancreas there is a deep depression and a narrowed part in the form of a neck. Behind the head are the lower hollow vein, the beginning of the portal vein, the right renal artery and renal vein, the common bile duct.
The gland's body has a width of 2 to 5 centimeters. This department is located a little farther to the left of the spine at level I of the lumbar vertebra. The body consists of three surfaces: the back, the front and the bottom.
The anterior surface is slightly concave and adjacent to the stomach. At the junction of the upper and middle parts of the pancreas there is a bulge. The posterior surface is closer to the back wall of the peritoneum and borders on it. The bottom is turned down and slightly forward.
All these surfaces are separated from one another by walls and edges. The organ from the right to the left slightly rises and it turns out that its third department - the tail lies higher than the head and almost closely approaches the spleen. Behind the body is the abdominal part of the aorta, the lymph nodes, the celiac plexus, or rather its small part. Along the body is the splenic vein.
The tail is the narrowest part of this important gland. It is only 0.3 to 3.4 centimeters wide. It is located one vertebra higher than the body. Behind the tail lies a small part of the left kidney, vein and artery of the kidney, the left adrenal gland.
The stomach, which is located on the front of the prostate, is separated from it by a gland bag.
A very important pancreatic duct passes through all parts of the organ. It merges with the common bile duct and is sent to the duodenum.
Speaking about the blood supply to the pancreas, it should be noted that the head is powered from the anterior, posterior and lower pancreatoduodenal arteries. The body and tail are connected with the branches of the splenic artery.
Venous outflow occurs through the portal portal veins.
The pancreas refers to organs with a complex alveolar structure. It performs two important functions - exocrine and endocrine.