ABDOMINAL CAVITY 347 



The splenic artery pursues a wavy course along the superior 

 border of the pancreas, whilst the transverse meso-colon is 

 attached to its anterior border. 



The tail of the pancreas abuts against the visceral aspect of 

 the spleen, and it usually rests in a small depression on the 

 lower and medial part of the gastric concavity of that organ 

 (Fig. 169, p. 360). 



Dissection. To display the posterior relations of the body 

 and neck of the pancreas, raise the tail from the spleen ; then, 

 working from left to right, carefully separate the body and the 

 neck from the structures which lie behind them. 



The posterior surface of the body of the pancreas lies in 

 front of the middle portion of the left kidney ; in front of the 

 hilum of the kidney and the structures which pass through 

 it ; in front of the lower part of the left suprarenal gland ; 

 in front of the left cms of the diaphragm ; and it joins the 

 left and anterior end of the neck. The splenic vein runs 

 behind its upper border, between it and the kidney and the 

 left suprarenal gland, to reach the back of the neck, where it 

 joins with the superior mesenteric vein to form the portal 

 vein. The inferior mesenteric vein passes behind the 

 posterior surface to join the splenic vein, and the left internal 

 spermatic vein also ascends behind it to join the left renal 

 vein, which issues from the hilum of the kidney and passes 

 to the right, behind the posterior surface of the body of 

 the pancreas, to join the inferior vena cava behind the head 

 of the pancreas. 



Ducts of the Pancreas. The ducts of the pancreas are, as 

 a rule, two in number a main duct and an accessory duct. 

 Both run within the gland substance. 



The main pancreatic duct ( Wirsungt] begins at the tail of 

 the gland by the union of the small ducts issuing from the 

 lobules in that region, and it proceeds towards the right. 

 During its course it gains considerably in size, being joined 

 by numerous small ducts which issue from the various groups 

 of lobules. At the neck of the gland it bends downwards 

 into the substance of the head. If the gland substance is 

 carefully divided, little difficulty will be experienced in dis- 

 covering the main duct. The extreme whiteness of its walls 

 renders it conspicuous. Close to the duodenum the pan- 

 creatic duct comes in contact with the bile-duct, and, in 

 company, both pierce the coats of the descending part of 



