Session 6 - Anatomy of the pancreas and spleen

Question 1

What is the pancreas?

Answer 1

• An elongated, acessory digestive gland that lies retroperitonealy.

Question 2

At what verterbral level can you find the pancreas?

Answer 2

• L1 + L2

Question 3

Where does the pancreas lie in relation to other organs?

Answer 3

• Posterior to the stomach
  
  • Between the duodenum and the spleen

Transverse mesocolon attaches to its anterior margin

Question 4

What are the four parts of the pancreas?

Answer 4

• Head
  
  • Neck
  • Body
  • Tail

Question 5

Where can the head of the pancreas be found?

Answer 5

• In the C-shaped curve of the duodenum

Question 6

What does the neck of the pancreas overly?

Answer 6

• Superior mesenteric vessels

Question 7

Where does the main pancreatic duct begin?

Answer 7

• At the tail of the pancreas and runs through the glans to the head
  
  • Then turns inferiorly and is closely related to the bile duct

Question 8

What do the pancreatic duct and bile duct join together to form?

Answer 8

• Hepatopancreatic ampulla of vater which opens into duodenum

Question 9

Where is the arterial supply of the pancreas derived from?

Answer 9

• Branches of the splenic artery

Question 10

What two arteries do the pancreatic arteries form arches with?

Answer 10

• Gastroduodenal

* Superior mesenteric arteries

Question 11

Where does the splenic artery come from? List the arteries leading to pancreastic arteries

Answer 11

Coeliac trunk -> Splenic artery -> Pancreatic

Question 12

What are the names of the gastroduodenal arterial supply of the pancreas?

Answer 12

• Anterior and posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries

Anterior and posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries

Question 13

What are the names of the superior mesenteric arterial supply to the pancreas?

Answer 13

• Pancreaticoduodenal arteries form anteriorly and posteriorly placed arches that supply the head

Question 14

What is the venous drainage of the pancreas?

Answer 14

• Pancreatic veins which correspond to arterial supply
  
  • Pancreaticoduodenal veins are the main one
  • Empty into splenic vein and superior mesenteric vein

Question 15

Describe the spleen

Answer 15

• An ovoid, purplish pulpy mass about the size and shape of a fist
  
  • Delicate

Question 16

Where is the spleen located?

Answer 16

• Upper left quadrant or hypochondrium of the abdomen, resting on left colic flexture ?

Question 17

What is the spleen covered by, and what is the only exception to this?

Answer 17

• Layer of visceral peritoneum, except at the splenic hilum

Question 18

What are the anterior relations of the spleen? What is the attachement?

Answer 18

• The stomach

* Attached by the gastrosplenic ligament

Question 19

What is the posterior relation of the spleen

Answer 19

• The left part of the diaphragm, which separates it from the pleura, lung and ribs 9-11

Question 20

What is the inferior relation of the spleen?

Answer 20

The left colic flexure

Question 21

What is the medial relation of the spleen? What is the attachment?

Answer 21

• The left kidney

Attached by the splenorenal ligament

Question 22

What is the arterial supply of the spleen?

Answer 22

• Splenic artery, the largest branch of the coeliac trunk

Question 23

What is the course of the splenic artery?

Answer 23

• Travels posterior to the omental bursa, anterior to the left kidney and along the superior border of the pancreas

Question 24

What is the venous drainage of the spleen?

Answer 24

• Splenic vein
  
  • Drains into Inferior mesenteric vein which runs posterior the body and tail of the pancreas throughout most of its course

Question 25

What does the splenic vein unite with posterior to the neck of the pancreas?

Answer 25

• The superior mesenteric vein to form the hepatic portal vein