502 



ABDOMEN 



Immediately adjoining the neck a smooth rounded prominence 

 projects upwards and forwards from the junction of the 

 anterior surface and the upper border, above and to the left 

 of the lower part of the small curvature of the stomach. 

 This process is the tuber omentale (His). It abuts against the 

 lesser omentum which separates it from the omental tubercle of 

 the liver. The inferior surface of the body of the pancreas 

 looks downwards and rests upon the duodeno-jejunal 

 flexure, the coils of the small intestine, and the trans- 

 verse colon close to the splenic flexure. It is completely 

 covered by the peritoneum, which forms the posterior layer of 



Duodenum 



Accessory 



Pancreatic duct 



Superior mesenteric artery 



Superioi mesenteric vein 



Head of Pancreas 



ranch of 

 accessory duct 



FIG. 192. Dissection of Pancreas from behind to show its Ducts. 

 (Birmingham.) 



the transverse meso-colon, and varies greatly in extent, the 

 variation being due to the varying degrees of intestinal 

 pressure to which the pancreas is subjected from below. 



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 individual, according to 

 the condition of these 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 transverse 

 meso-colon at its root. 



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 usually rests upon a small depression on the 



