TOPOGRAPHY OF THE THORAX AND ABDOMEN 



55 



The inferior surface is also peritonaeal. It faces downward 

 and a little forward and is in relation by its inner part with 

 the duodenojejunal angle and by its outer part with coils 

 of the jejunoileum. The anterior border which separates 

 these two surfaces is very well marked in its outer two- 

 thirds where it gives attachment to the transverse meso- 

 colon. 



The posterior surface is retroperitonaeal. It is in con- 

 tact, near the midline of the body, with the coeliac axis and 

 mesenteric vessels. The splenic vessels run across the 

 posterior surface, in a shallow groove, from within outward 

 and upward. The coeliac plexus and the semilunar ganglia 

 surrounding these vessels separate the pancreas from the 

 crura of the diaphragm in the region of the twelfth thor- 

 acic and first lumbar vertebrae (Plate XVI). The outer half 

 of this surface rests upon the left suprarenal gland and kid- 

 ney. The pancreas is in contact with the lower two-thirds 

 of the suprarenal. Just external to the suprarenal the pan- 

 creas is bound to the kidney from about 2 cm. below the 

 upper pole to the middle of the hilus. The outermost part 

 of the posterior surface is in contact with the spleen. The 

 part of the spleen in contact with the body of the pancreas 

 is small and lies between the gastric and renal surfaces of 

 the spleen, and below the splenic area in contact with 

 the tail of the pancreas. 



The tail of the pancreas is peritonaeal on its anterior 

 surface only where it is in relation with the posterior sur- 

 face of the stomach. Its inferior (external) surface is 

 attached to the spleen, its posterior (internal) surface to 

 the anteroexternal surface of the kidney. The splenic vessels 

 run along its superior border and pass over its apex to reach 

 the hilus of the spleen. The lowest portion of the tail, at 



