Where is the pancreas located anatomically?

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 is the innervation to the pancreas?

The pancreas receives involuntary innervation via the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Its parasympathetic innervation originates from the vagus nerve (CN X) and its sympathetic innervation from the greater and lesser splanchnic nerves (T5-T12).

What is the uncinate process of the pancreas?

The uncinate process is a hook like extension from the lower part of the head of the pancreas, and it extends superiorly and posteriorly behind the superior mesenteric vein (SMV), and ends either to the right side or extending behind the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) 1.

What part of spine controls pancreas?

Sympathetic innervation of the pancreas originates from the sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the lower thoracic and upper lumbar segments of the spinal cord.

Is pancreas on right or left side?

The head of the pancreas is on the right side of the abdomen and is connected to the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine) through a small tube called the pancreatic duct. The narrow end of the pancreas, called the tail, extends to the left side of the body.

Where is the transplant of the pancreas located?

The pancreatic head (H) is in an anterior, medial, and inferior location and the pancreatic body/tail (T) is in a posterior, superior, and lateral location in the right lower quadrant. The transplant pancreas is immediately deep to the abdominal wall (AW) and placed on the anterolateral surface of the psoas muscle (PM).

Where does the body of the pancreas pass?

The body of the pancreas passes to the left, inclining slightly upwards to become continuous with the tail. As it passes from right to left, the body of the pancreas arches across in front of the aorta and vertebral column, approximately in the transpyloric plane at the level of the first lumbar vertebra.

What are the islet cells in the pancreas?

Islet cells are endocrine cells within the pancreas that produce and secrete insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. Insulin lowers blood sugar levels while glucagon raises blood sugar levels.

Is there an anatomic landmark for the tail of the pancreas?

SMA, superior mesenteric artery. PL, plexus. There is no anatomic landmark for the division between the body and tail of the pancreas although the left border of the aorta is sometimes used to mark the junction (2, 6). Hellman defined the tail as the one fourth of the pancreas from the tip of the tail to the head,…