The pancreas is a soft, lobulated gland about 12-15 cm long that lies across the back of the upper abdomen behind the stomach. Its head sits in the C-shaped curve of the duodenum and its tail reaches the spleen. It is both an exocrine gland, making digestive juice, and an endocrine gland, with scattered islets that make hormones such as insulin and glucagon.
| Location | Retroperitoneal, across the posterior abdominal wall at about L1-L2, behind the stomach and lesser sac, from the duodenal curve to the splenic hilum |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Vagus nerve (parasympathetic, secretomotor); Greater and lesser splanchnic nerves via the coeliac and superior mesenteric plexuses (sympathetic and pain) |
| Blood Supply | Anterior and posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries; Anterior and posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries; Pancreatic branches of the splenic artery (dorsal, great and caudal pancreatic arteries) |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Secretes about 1-1.5 litres a day of enzyme-rich, bicarbonate-rich juice to digest proteins, fats and carbohydrates and neutralise stomach acid, and releases hormones that control blood glucose.
Because it is retroperitoneal, pancreatic pain is deep in the upper abdomen and typically bores through to the back, often eased by sitting forward. Gallstones and alcohol are the main causes of acute pancreatitis, diagnosed by typical pain with raised serum lipase or amylase. Pancreatic cancer is often found late because the gland is hidden and early symptoms are vague.
Inflammation of the pancreas, usually from gallstones or alcohol, causing severe epigastric pain radiating to the back; can be life-threatening.
Long-term inflammation and scarring causing chronic pain, malabsorption from enzyme loss and diabetes.
Aggressive cancer, most often in the head, presenting with painless jaundice, weight loss, back pain or new diabetes.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
