PANCREAS. 



749 



saccular dilatations are given off; others are small clustered cellular glands, 

 which open either separately into the hepatic duct, or into the ducts of the 

 tubular glands. 



THE PANCREAS. 



Dissection. The pancreas may be exposed for dissection in three different ways : 1. By rais- 

 ing the liver, drawing down the stomach, and tearing through the gastro-hepatic omentum. 

 2.By raising the stomach, the arch of the colon, and great omentum, and then dividing the 

 inferior layer of the transverse meso-colon. 3. By dividing the two layers of peritoneum, which 

 descend from the great curvature of the stomach to form the great omentum ; turning the sto- 

 mach upwards, and then cutting through the ascending layer of the transverse meso-colon. 



The Pancreas (rtai/-*p!aj, all flesh) is a conglomerate gland, analogous in its 

 structure to the salivary glands. In shape it is transversely oblong, flattened 

 from before backwards, and bears some resemblance to a dog's tongue, its right 

 extremity being broad, and presenting a sort of angular bend from above down- 

 wards, called the head, whilst its left extremity gradually tapers to form the 

 tail, the intermediate portion being called the body. It is situated transversely 

 across the posterior wall of the abdomen, at the back of the epigastric and both 

 hypochondriac regions. Its length varies from six to eight inches, its breadth 

 is an inch and a half, and its thickness from half an inch to an inch, being 

 greater at its right extremity and along its upper border. Its weight varies 

 from two to three and a half ounces, but it may reach six ounces. 



The right extremity or head of the pancreas (Fig. 413) is curved upon itself 

 from, above downwards, and is embraced by the concavity of the duodenum. 



Fig. 413. The Pancreas and its Kelations. 



The common bile-duct descends behind, between the duodenum and pancreas ; 

 and the pancreatico -duodenal artery descends in front between the same parts. 

 On the posterior aspect of the pancreas is a lobular fold of the gland, which 

 passes transversely to the left, behind the superior mesenteric vessels, forming 

 the back part of the canal in which they are contained. It is sometimes de- 

 tached from the rest of the gland, and is called the lesser pancreas. 



The lesser end or tail of the pancreas is narrow ; it extends to the left as far as 

 the spleen, and is placed over the left kidney and suprarenal capsule. 



