Duodenum, Pancreas, Spleen - Anatomy

Question 1

What are the 4 parts of the duodenum?

Answer 1

1. Superior
2. Descending
3. Horizontal/inferior
4. Ascending

Question 2

What is the ascending part of the duodenum held in place by?

Answer 2

Ligament of treitz

Question 3

What is the ligament of treitz used surgically for?

Answer 3

To differentiate between duodenum and ileum

Question 4

Where does the head of the pancreas reside?

Answer 4

In the C-shape of the duodenum

Question 5

What is the uncinate process an extension of?

Answer 5

Head of pancreas

Question 6

What is posterior to the neck of the pancreas?

Answer 6

SMV and SMA –> emerge just deep to pancreas and pas anterior to 3rd part of duodenum

Question 7

Where is the splenic artery found?

Answer 7

Superior aspect of pancreas

Question 8

Where do structures enter and leave the liver?

Answer 8

Porta hepatis

Question 9

What structures enter and leave the liver?

Answer 9

1. Hepatic artery proper
2. Common bile duct
3. Hepatic portal vein

Question 10

How is the common bile duct formed?

Answer 10

By hepatic duct (from liver) and cystic duct (from gall bladder)

Question 11

What level is transverse mesocolon found?

Answer 11

At level of pancreas –> leaves posterior wall to surround TC

Question 12

What ribs is the spleen closely related to?

Answer 12

9-11

Question 13

What is function of spleen?

Answer 13

Identifying and removing destroyed or expended RBCs and platelets

Question 14

What is the tail of the pancreas closely related to?

Answer 14

Hilum of spleen

Question 15

What is the hilum of the spleen?

Answer 15

Where structures enter and leave the spleen (splenic artery, splenic vein)

Question 16

How is the splenic artery easily identifiable?

Answer 16

Very tortuous along path (wiggly)

Question 17

Where is the splenic vein found?

Answer 17

Inferior aspect of pancreas

Question 18

What does the IMV join after draining hindgut? What does this then join?

Answer 18

IMV joins splenic vein, then joins SMV to form portal vein

Question 19

Describe superior and anterior edge of spleen compared to posterior and inferior?

Answer 19

Superior and anterior edge of spleen has a nodular surface in comparison to posterior and inferior edges (usually quite rounded)

Question 20

What are the surfaces of the spleen?

Answer 20

1. Gastric
2. Colic
3. Renal

Question 21

Is the spleen intra or retroperitoneal?

Answer 21

Intraperitoneal (formed within dorsal mesentery)

Question 22

What does presence of spleen split dorsal mesentery into?

Answer 22

2 peritoneal ligaments:

• Splenorenal / lienorenal ligament
• Gastrosplenic ligament

Question 23

Where is the splenorenal/lienorenal ligament?

Answer 23

From spleen to kidney

Question 24

Where is the gastrosplenic ligament?

Answer 24

Between stomach and spleen

Question 25

Is the tail of the spleen intra or retroperitoneal? Why?

Answer 25

Intraperitoneal --> resides mainly within lienorenal ligament

Question 26

Is majority of pancreas intra or retroperitoneal?

Answer 26

Retroperitoneal (except tail)

Question 27

Where does the uncinate process loop in relation to the SM vessels?

Answer 27

Loops posterior to the SM vessels

Question 28

Is the duodenum intra or retroperitoneal?

Answer 28

Retroperitoneal (except 1st part)

Question 29

Why is 1st part of duodenum intraperitoneal?

Answer 29

Attached to liver by lesser omentum, specifically the hepatogastric ligament

Question 30

Where do secretions from the biliary system and pancreas enter GI tract?

Answer 30

2nd part of duodenum (also where we change from foregut to midgut)

Question 31

What does the major pancreatic duct meet?

Answer 31

Meets the common bile duct

Question 32

Where does the major pancreatic duct meet the common bile duct?

Answer 32

At the pancreatic ampulla / ampulla of Vater

Question 33

What is the ampulla of Vater controlled by?

Answer 33

Sphincter of Oddi

Question 34

What does the sphincter of Oddi control?

Answer 34

Controls flow of digestive juices (bile and pancreatic juice) through ducts from the liver and pancreas into the duodenum (2nd part of duodenum)

Question 35

What is the major duodenal papilla? Where is it?

Answer 35

Raised area of mucosa at which secretions enter into the duodenum 2nd part of duodenum

Question 36

Where does the minor pancreatic duct empty into?

Answer 36

Into duodenum (at minor duodenal papilla)