346 ABDOMEN 



superior^ anterior, and inferior borders. The anterior surface 

 looks forwards and upwards, and is covered by the peritoneum 

 of the posterior wall of the omental bursa. In the greater 

 part of its extent, the anterior surface supports the postero- 

 inferior surface of the stomach, and is hollowed for its re- 

 ception. Immediately adjoining the neck a smooth rounded 

 prominence, the tuber omentale of the pancreas^ projects upwards 

 and forwards, from the junction of the anterior surface and 

 the upper border of the pancreas, above and to the left of the 

 lower part of the lesser curvature of the stomach. The tuber 

 omentale abuts against the lesser omentum, which separates it 

 from the omental tubercle of the liver. 



Duodenum 



Pancreatic duct 



Superior mesenteric artery 



Superior mesenteric vein' 



Head of pancreas 



FIG. 157. Dissection of the posterior surface of the Pancreas to show its 

 Ducts. (Birmingham.) 



The inferior surface of the body of the pancreas varies 

 greatly in extent, in association with the varying degrees of 

 intestinal pressure to which it is subjected from below. It 

 looks downwards and rests upon the duodeno-jejunal flexure, 

 coils of the small intestine, and the left part of the transverse 

 colon close to the left flexure of the colon. It is completely 

 covered with peritoneum which is continuous with the posterior 

 layer of the transverse meso-colon. 



The gastric pressure exerted on the pancreas from above, and the counter- 

 pressure which is exerted by the intestine on the inferior surface of the 

 organ from below, varying, as they do in the same subject, according to 

 the condition of those hollow viscera, determine, in a great measure, the 

 shape of the body of the pancreas. The body of the pancreas has the 

 appearance of being wedged in between the two layers of the root of the 

 transverse meso-colon. 



