Pancreas

Question 1

What is the exocrine function of the pancreas?

Answer 1

secretion of digestive enzymes

Question 2

What is the endocrine function of the pancreas?

Answer 2

secretion of the hormones insulin and glucagon

Question 3

What are the parts of the pancreas?

Answer 3

• head
• neck
• body
• tail
• uncinate process

Question 4

What is the uncinate process of the pancreas?

Answer 4

a projection of the head to the left behind the superior mesenteric vessels

Question 5

What is the location of the pancreas in relation to other structures?

Answer 5

• lies posterior to the stomach within the epigastric and left hypochondrium regions
• is a retroperitoneal organ except for the tip of the tail, which lies within the splenorenal ligament
• the head lies within the C-shaped concavity of the duodenum
• the superior mesenteric artery and vein pass posterior to the neck and anterior to the uncinate process
• the splenic artery runs along the superior surface of the pancreas, while the splenic vein runs along its posterior surface

Question 6

What drains the pancreas?

Answer 6

• pancreatic duct

- accessory pancreatic duct

Question 7

What does the pancreatic duct drain?

Answer 7

• drains the neck, body, and tail
• joins the common bile duct to form the hepatopancreatic ampulla, which in turn empties into the major duodenal papilla within the second part of the duodenum

Question 8

What does the accessory pancreatic duct drain?

Answer 8

• drains the head and uncinate process
• empties into the minor duodenal papilla, also located within the second part of the duodenum, 2 cm above the major duodenal papilla

Question 9

What is the blood supply to the pancreas?

Answer 9

• pancreatic branches of the splenic artery
• superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (from gastroduodenal)
• inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (from superior mesenteric)

Question 10

What is the innervation of the pancreas?

Answer 10

autonomic and pain fibers from the celiac plexus

Question 11

What is rupture of the pancreas?

Answer 11

• often occurs when there is forceful compression of the abdomen, as in an auto accident when a person is thrown against the steering column
• the steering column acts as a hammer, the vertebral column as an anvil
• release of digestive enzymes into the body cavity causes a lot of damage to adjacent tissues

Question 12

What is the chiropractic note concerning the pancreas?

Answer 12

• pain from the pancreas is referred to lower thoracic segments
• pain from the head is referred to the right of the vertebral column; pain from the body and tail is referred to the left