1340 THE ORGANS OF DIGESTION 



The body (corpus pancreatis) is somewhat prismatic in shape, and has three 

 surfaces anterior, posterior, and inferior. 



The anterior surface (fades anterior] is somewhat concave, and is directed for- 

 ward and upward; it is covered by the postero-inferior surface of the stomach 

 which rests upon it, the two organs being separated by the lesser sac of the peri- 

 toneum. Where it joins the neck extremity there is a well-marked prominence, 

 called the omental tuberosity (tuber omentale), which abuts against the posterior 

 surface of the small omentum. 



The posterior surface (fades posterior) is devoid of peritoneum, and is in contact 

 with the aorta, the splenic vein, the left kidney and its vessels, the left suprarenal 

 gland, the crura of the Diaphragm, and the origin of the superior mesenteric 

 artery. 



The inferior surface (fades inferior} (Fig. 1082) is narrow on the right, but 

 broader on the left, and is covered by peritoneum; it lies upon the duodenojejunal 

 flexure and on some coils of the jejunum; its left extremity rests on the splenic 

 flexure of the colon. 



The superior border (margo superior) (Fig. 1082) of the body is blunt and flat 

 to the right; narrow and sharp to the left, near the tail. It commences to the right 

 in the omental tuberosity, and is in relation with the coeliac axis, from which 

 the hepatic artery courses to the right just above the gland, while the splenic 

 branch runs toward the left in a groove along this border. 



The anterior border (margo anterior) separates the anterior from the inferior 

 surface, and along this border the two layers of the transverse mesocolon diverge 

 from each other; one passing upward over the anterior surface, the other backward 

 over the inferior surface. 



The inferior border (margo inferior) separates the posterior from the inferior 

 surface; the superior mesenteric vessels emerge under its right extremity. 



The tail (cauda pancreatis) is narrow; it extends to the left as far as the lower 

 part of the gastric surface of the spleen, and it is in contact with the splenic flexure 

 of the colon. 



Birmingham describes the body of the pancreas as projecting forward as a 

 prominent ridge into the abdominal cavity and forming a sort of shelf on which 

 the stomach lies. He says: "The portion of the pancreas to the left of the middle 

 line has a very considerable antero-posterior thickness; as a result the anterior 

 surface is of considerable extent, it looks strongly upward, and forms a large 

 and important part of the shelf. As the pancreas extends to the left toward the 

 spleen it crosses the upper part of the kidney, and is so moulded on to it that the 

 top of the kidney forms an extension inward and backward of the upper surface 

 of the pancreas and extends the bed in this direction. On the other hand, the 

 extremity of the pancreas comes in contact with the spleen in such a way that the 

 plane of its upper surface runs with little interruption upward and backward into 

 the concave gastric surface of the spleen, which completes the bed behind and to 

 the left, and, running upward, forms a partial cap for the wide end of the 

 stomach." 



The principal excretory duct of the pancreas, called the pancreatic duct or canal 

 of Wirsung (ductus pancreaticus [Wirsungi]) (Figs. 1081 and 1083), extends trans- 

 versely from left to right through the substance of the pancreas. In order to expose 

 it, the superficial portion of the gland must be removed. It commences by the 

 junction of the small ducts of the lobules situated in the tail of the pancreas, and, 

 running from left to right through the body, it constantly receives the ducts of 

 the various lobules composing the gland. Considerably augmented in size, it 

 reaches the neck, and, turning obliquely downward, backward, and to the right, 

 it comes into relation with the common bile duct, lying to its left side; leaving the 

 head of the gland, it passes very obliquely through the mucous and muscular coats 



