Pancreas & Small Bowel Flashcards
What is the anatomical relationship of the pancreas and stomach?
Stomach: Separated from the pancreas by the lesser sac, the stomach and pylorus lie anterior and to the pancreas.
What is the anatomical relationship of the pancreas and duodenum?
The “C” shaped duodenum curves around and outlines the head of the pancreas. First part of the duodenum resides anteriorly; whereas the second part of the duodenum including the ampulla, resides laterally to the right of the pancreatic head.
What is the transverse mesocolon?
Transverse mesocolon: Attaches to the anterior surface of the pancreas.
What is the relationship of the common bile duct and the pancreas?
Common bile duct: Descends posteriorly to the head of the pancreas.
What is the anatomical relationship between the pancreas and spleen?
Spleen: Located posteriorly and laterally. Lienorenal ligament formed from the peritoneum, connecting the spleen to the tail of the pancreas.
What artery supplies the pancreas?
Superior mesenteric artery
Where is the superior mesenteric artery located in relation to the pancreas?
Lies behind the neck of the Pancras, and anterior to the uncinate process
The splenic and superior mesenteric arteries unite to form which vessel?
Unites to form the hepatic portal vein
Which plexus innervates the pancreas?
Coeliac plexus
What is the head of the pancreas?
Widest part of the pancreas lies within the C-shaped curve created by the duodenum and is connected via connective tissue
What is the uncinate process of the pancreas?
Projection arising from the lower part of the head, extending medially to lie beauty the body of the pancreas
What is the neck of the pancreas?
Located between the head & the body of the pancreas. Overlies the superior mesenteric vessels
What is the body of the pancreas?
Centrally located; crosses midline of the human body to lie behind the stomach, and to the left of the superior mesenteric vessels
What are the main exocrine pancreatic cells?
Acinar cells
What do the acinar cells secrete?
Acinar cells secrete enzyme-rich pancreatic juice into merging ducts.
What does the main pancreatic duct fuse with to form the hepatopancreatic duct?
Common bile duct
What is the accessory duct?
The duct of Santorini, traverses from pancreas directly into duodenum
What are the exocrine acini?
Clusters of secretory units associated to the ducts. They produce pancreatic digestive enzymes on the RER, moving to the Golgi complex forming condensing vacuoles -> Zymogens
What type of enzyme granule are released from pancreatic acinar cells?
Zymogen granules
What are pancreatic secretions secreted into?
Main pancreatic duct
How do pancreatic secretions enter the duodenum?
Main pancreatic duct fuses with the common bile duct, entering through the duodenum through the Ampulla of Vater
What molecule is released into the pancreatic secretions to control pH?
Bicarbonate ions, provide the optimum basic pH for digestive enzymes within the small intestine (lacks thick protective mucous barrier), neutralisation of acidic chyme
What are the endocrine cells of the pancreas?
Islets of Langerhans
alpha cells
beta cells
delta cells
What pancreatic polypeptides and hormone are released by pancreatic alpha cells?
Glucagon