Chapter 14 Flashcards
From which two endodermal tissues does the pancreas develop?
When in development does this begin?
Dorsal and ventral pancreatic buds
4th wk of gestation
Position of the pancreas
Lies retroperitoneal, posterior to the stomach at the level of the first and second lumbar vertebrae
Composition of the pancreas
Head Uncinate process Neck Body Tail
Position of head of the pancreas
Rests within the C-loop of the duodenum to the right of the midline
Uncinate process
An inferior projection of the head, which curves posterior to the superior mesenteric vessels and anterior to the IVC
Neck of the pancreas
The portion of the pancreas that lies anterior to the portal vein and superior to mesenteric vessels
Body of the pancreas
To the left of the mesenteric vessels
Lies superior to the fourth portion of the duodenum and forms the floor of the lesser sac
Tail of the pancreas
The smallest portion of the pancreas
Lies in proximity to the splenic hilum
Blood supply of head and uncinate process
Vast majority is supplied by anterior and posterior superior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries
Superior pancreaticoduodenal artery branches
Branches off the gastroduodenal artery, which emanates from the celiac axis
Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery pathway
Arises from the SMA
Blood supply to body and tail of the pancreas
Branches of the splenic and left gastroepiploic arteries supply the distal body and tail of the pancreas
Within the posterosuperior and posteroinferior aspect of the body of the pancreas lie the superior and inferior pancreatic arteries, respectively
Venous drainage of the pancreas
Parallels its arterial supply
All drainage ultimately enters the portal vein, which is formed posterior to the neck of the pancreas by the confluence of the splenic and SMVs
Sympathetic pathway of the pancreas
Preganglionic sympathetic axons arise from cell bodies withint he thoracic sympathetic ganglia and travel as splanchnic nerves terminating within the celiac ganglia
Postganglionic sympathetic fibers traverse retroperitoneal tissue to innervate the pancreas and serve as the principal pathways for pain of pancreatic origin
Parasympathetic innervation
Preganglionic fiber cell bodies that reside within the vagal nuclei and travel through the posterior vagal trunk.
These axons traverse the celiac plexus and terminate in parasympathetic ganglia within the pancreatic parenchyma
Short postganglionic parasympathetic fibers then innervate the pancreatic islets, acini, and ducts, serving an exclusively efferent function
What are the two general categories of cellular components of the pancreas?
Exocrine
Endocrine
What are the primary exocrine units of the pancreas?
Acinar cells
How are acinar cells connected?
Connected to each other by a network of tubules and ducts, which eventually drain into the duodenum
Types of islet cells
Alpha
Beta
Delta
What does each islet consist of?
A core composed of beta cells
A peripheral mantle composed of alpha, delta, and pancreatic polypeptide cells
How much does the exocrine pancreas produce?
Up to 20 g of digestive enzymes and 2.5 L of bicarb-rich fluid each day.
Purpose of the acinar cells
Responsible for the production of enzymes
Purpose of the ductal cells
Secrete fluid and electrolytes under both vagal and humoral control
Sodium and potassium concentrations and exocrine physiology
Remain constant and are approximately equivalent to plasma concentrations
Anion concentration of pancreatic exocrine secretion
Dependent on secretory rate
What is the most potent endogenous stimulant of pancreatic bicarb secretion?
Secretin
Where is secretin synthesized?
In the mucosal S cells of the crypts of Lieberkuhn of the proximal small bowel and is released int he presence of luminal acid and bile
Physiology of secretin
Circulates in the blood and binds to secretin receptors on pancreatic ductal cells, effecting signal transduction through the intracellular adenylate cyclase system
The resultant bicarb secretion serves to neutralize stomach acid that enters the duodenum