272 



ANATOMY FOR NURSES [Chap. XIV 



PANCREAS 



The pancreas is an elongated organ, of a pinkish color, which 

 lies in front of the first and second lumbar vertebrae and behind 

 the stomach. It weighs between two and three ounces (60 to 

 90 grams), is about six inches (150 mm.) long, two inches (50 

 mm.) wide, and one-half inch (12.5 mm.) thick. In shape it 

 somewhat resembles a hammer, and is divided into head, body, 



HEPATIC DUCT 



\^^^^^ ■/ '.^$ , SPLENIC AR 



COMMON BILE DUCT 



ORIFICE OF 



ACCESSORY 



PANCREATIC DUCT 



FiQ. 158. — Ddcts of the Pancreas. Part of the front wall of the duodenum 

 is cut away. (Gerrish.) 



and tail. The right end or head is thicker and fills the curve 

 of the duodenum, to which it is firmly attached. The left, free 

 ,end is the tail, and reaches to the spleen. The intervening portion 

 is the body. 



Structure of the pancreas. — It is a compound secreting gland 

 and consists of minute tubes coiled up into little masses called 

 lobules, each lobule having its own duct. The lobules are joined 

 together by connective tissue to form lobes, and the lobes, united 

 in the same manner, form the gland. The small ducts open into 

 one main duct adbout the size of a goose-quill, which runs length- 



