Anatomy and Physiology of the Pancreas

The pancreas is the body’s largest digestive gland, situated in the center of the body, on either side of the transpyloric plane. It is notable for its complex anatomy and the co-location of exocrine and endocrine organs. Pancreatic surgery requires a detailed understanding of the anatomy of the pancreas and its relation to adjacent vital structures. This review describes the morphology of the pancreas, its ductal system, the major duodenal papilla, arterial anatomy, venous anatomy, lymphatic draining, and nerve supply. Because managing patients with pancreatic diseases requires a detailed understanding of the physiology of the exocrine and the endocrine pancreas, both are discussed here. This review contains 16 highly rendered figures and 15 references.