Normal Anatomy

Pancreas

a retroperitoneal organ located behind the stomach from which it is separated by the lesser sac. It is elongated in shape, extending obliquely across the posterior abdominal wall from the duodenum to the spleen. The exocrine secretions of the gland, which comprise a variety of digestive enzymes, pass into the duodenum from the pancreatic duct via the ampulla of Vater. Prominent among the endocrine functions of the gland is the production of the hormone insuline, which plays a vital role in carbohydrate metabolism. See also abdominal cavity, retroperitoneal space (II), Fig. 2

OE