Anatomy of the Pancreas

Anatomy

The pancreas is a retroperitoneal organ lying behind the left hepatic lobe and the stomach. It has no distinct organ capsule and merges with the retroperitoneal fat tissue posterior to the lesser sac (bursa omentalis). It has an inverted swoosh-like configuration, a pale-tan to ochre color, and a characteristic lobular structure. Anatomically, it is divided into three main areas, the head, which is engulfed by the duodenal “C” and lies to the right of the vascular confluence of the superior mesenteric and portal veins; the body, located between the left border of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and the left border of the aorta; and the tail, which extends from the left border of the aorta to the hilar region of the spleen. The splenic blood vessels are located along the dorso-cranial edge of the gland, serving as a landmark for orientation during grossing (Klimstra et al. 2007). The pancreatic head has a thickness of 3.5–5.5 cm and thus constitutes the thickest part of the...