Where is the pancreas anatomically located?
Anatomy of the pancreas The pancreas is an elongated, tapered organ located across the back of the belly, behind the stomach. The right side of the organ—called the head—is the widest part of the organ and lies in the curve of the duodenum, the first division of the small intestine.
What vertebral level is pancreas?
The head of the pancreas lies in front of L2 vertebra, the body lies in front of L1 vertebra, and the tail lies at the level of T12 vertebra; pancreatic parenchymal calcification/ductal calculi in chronic pancreatitis is seen at these levels on plain radiography of the abdomen.
Is the pancreas retroperitoneal or intraperitoneal?
The pancreas is a retroperitoneal organ with a close anatomic relationship to the peritoneal reflections in the abdomen, including the transverse mesocolon and the small bowel mesentery, and is directly contiguous to peritoneal ligaments such as the hepatoduodenal ligament, gastrohepatic ligament, splenorenal ligament.
Which part of pancreas is intraperitoneal?
The pancreas is separated from the stomach anteriorly by the lesser sac of the peritoneal cavity. The pancreatic tail courses in the splenorenal ligament along with the splenic vessels, rendering this portion of the pancreas intraperitoneal.
What organ lies ventral to the pancreas?
The ventral diverticulum gives rise to the common bile duct, gallbladder, liver and the ventral pancreatic anlage that becomes a portion of the head of the pancreas with its duct system including the uncinate portion of the pancreas.
Which parts of the pancreas are retroperitoneal?
Retroperitoneal structures the head, neck, and body of the pancreas (but not the tail, which is located in the splenorenal ligament) the duodenum, except for the proximal first segment, which is intraperitoneal.
Where is the sphincter of Oddi?
The sphincter of Oddi refers to the smooth muscle that surrounds the end portion of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct. This muscle relaxes during a meal to allow bile and pancreatic juice to flow into the intestine.
Where is the retroperitoneal area?
The area in the back of the abdomen behind the peritoneum (the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers most of the organs in the abdomen). The organs in the retroperitoneum include the adrenal glands, aorta, kidneys, esophagus, ureters, pancreas, rectum, and parts of the stomach and colon.
Where do you feel sod pain?
The main symptom of SOD is severe stomach pain that comes and goes. The symptoms can feel similar to a gallbladder attack. You may have pain in your upper belly that seems to move, or spread, into your right shoulder. You may also have chest pain that feels like a heart attack.
Is the pancreas on the right side of the body?
It is shaped like a flat pear and is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, liver, spleen and gallbladder. The wide end of the pancreas on the right side of the body is called the head.
Where is the pancreas located in the small intestine?
When food enters the stomach, these pancreatic juices are released into a system of ducts that culminate in the main pancreatic duct. The pancreatic duct joins the common bile duct to form the ampulla of Vater which is located at the first portion of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
Where does the pain in the pancreas come from?
Pancreas pain is the chief symptom of acute pancreatitis, according to Medscape. The pain is usually severe and sudden. It increases in severity until it becomes a constant ache. This pancreas pain is felt in the upper abdomen.
Why is the pancreas such a unique organ?
Pancreas Function. The pancreas is a unique organ because it has two distinct functions. It is composed of two types of cells which enable it to work either as an endocrine or exocrine gland.