Pancreas (Dave's notes) Flashcards
What is the role of the pancreas?
The pancreas is a composite gland of exocrine function to the duodenum and endocrine (islets of langerhans) function
What is the size and shape of the pancreas
The pancreas is shaped like a thick walking stick, with a length of approximately 15cm firm and finely lobulated.
What are the parts of the spleen?
Head, neck, body, tail
Describe the head of and relations of the head of the pancreas
The head is the broadest part of the pancreas, moulded into a c-shaped duodenal concavity. Lies on the IVC and R and L renal veins (L2). The uncinate process is prolonged and wedge shaped, an dlies behind the SMA and SMV
What is attached to the anterior surface of the pancreas?
The tansverse colon (or mesentary thereof??). The pancreas lies immediately behind the periotoneum in the posterior abdominal wall
Describe the neck of and relations of the neck of the pancreas
The neck of the pancreas is a narrow band intrond of the SMV and portal vein. The SMV passes between the neck and the uncinate process
What are the relations of the body of the pancreas?
The body passes from the neck of the pancreas to the left, sloping up across the left renal vein, aorta (coeliac trunk origin), L) crus, L) psoas, and lower pole of the left suprarenal cland, and the hilum of the left kidney. The coeliac trunk and then splenic artery passes along the upper border (??). The SMA originates at the lower border. The splenic vein lies closely apposed to the posterior surface
What are the relations of the tail of the pancreas?
The tail of the pancreas passes from the anterior surface of the left kidney, through the two layers of the lienorenal ligament to the hilum of the spleen
What is the course of the pancreatic duct?
The pancreatic duct passes from tail to head to enter D2, 2cm downstream from the accessory duct draining the uncinate process
What is the blood supply of the pancreas?
The blood supply of the pancreas is primarily from the splenic artery. The superior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries supply the head.
What is the venous drainage of the pancreas?
The venous drainage of the pancreas is by the splenic vein and the superior pancreaticoduodenal vein, into the portal vein, and the inferior pancreaticoduodenal vain, into the SMV.
What is the lymphatic drainage of the pancreas?
The lymphatic drainage of the pancreas mirrors the arterial supply
What is the nerve supply of the pancreas?
Parasympathetic and sympathetic
Describe the parasympathetic supply of the pancreas
The parasympathetic supply of the pancreas stimulates. It is supplied by a posterior vagal trunk from the coeliac plexus.
Describe the sympathetic supply of the pancreas
The sympathetic supply of the pancreas has a vasoconstrictor effect. From T6-10, travelling via splanchnic nerves which also carry fibres for pain.
