THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY 319 



three sources, (i) The superior pancreatico-duodenal, a branch 

 of the gastro-duodenal (p. 296), and (2) the inferior pancreatico- 

 duodenal, a branch of the superior mesenteric (p. 323), supply 

 the head of the gland. (3) The pancreatic branches of the 

 splenic artery supply the rest of the gland. 



The Veins of the Pancreas join the splenic vein, but a fairly 

 large vein issues from the dorsal aspect of the head and runs 

 upwards, to the left of the bile-duct, to join the portal vein. 

 This vessel may give rise to haemorrhage during the exposure of 

 the third part of the bile-duct (p. 315). 



Development of the Pancreas. The pancreas is developed from two 

 hollow buds, of which one springs from the ventral and the other from the 

 dorsal aspect of the duodenum. The ventral bud arises at the same point 

 as the liver-bud, but it only forms a small portion of the head of the 

 pancreas, while the dorsal bud gives rise to the rest of the head, to the 

 neck, body and tail of the gland. The two masses of cells grow into the 

 mesentery of the duodenum and fuse with one another. Their ducts also 

 unite and, as growth proceeds, the proximal part of the dorsal duct remains 

 small, so that the main adult duct is derived from the ventral duct and 

 the distal part of the dorsal duct, and consequently opens into the ampulla 

 of Vater in common with the bile-duct. Although small, the proximal 

 part of the dorsal duct persists as the accessory pancreatic duct and 

 retains its original connection with the duodenum. The communication 

 of the two primitive ducts with one another may or may not be retained 

 (see p. 315). 



The Spleen lies in the left hypochondriac region under 

 cover of the ninth, tenth, and eleventh ribs, and its long axis 

 corresponds roughly to the tenth. It is almost completely 

 surrounded by peritoneum and projects into the greater sac 

 between the stomach and the lateral part of the left kidney. 

 It is attached to the greater curvature of the stomach by the 

 gastro-splenic ligament, and to the anterior surface of the left 

 kidney by the lieno-renal ligament (Fig. 87). The postero- 

 lateral aspect of the spleen lies in contact with the diaphragm, 

 and its antero-medial surface is related to the stomach, in front, 

 the kidney, behind, and the left colic flexure and the phrenico- 

 colic ligament, below. 



The diaphragmatic surface of the spleen is roughly 

 triangular in shape, and its apex or superior angle can be 

 indicated on the dorsal surface of the body at a point i| inches 

 lateral to the tenth thoracic spine. Its inferior angle lies 

 opposite the eleventh intercostal space about 3^ inches lateral 

 to the first lumbar spine, and its anterior angle is placed on the 

 mid-axillary line in the ninth intercostal space (Fig. 84). When 

 these points are joined to one another by lines which are slightly 



