Pancreas 

• The pancreas is 12-15 cm long and is located in the epigastrum.
• Four parts make up the pancreas: 
  • Head
    • Uncinate process 
  • Neck
  • Body
  • Tail 
• The head and body lie outside the peritoneum.
• The head of the pancreas is surrounded by the duodenum as it makes a C-loop around the pancreas. 
• The common bile duct traverses through the head of the pancreas and joins with the pancreatic duct at the ampulla of Vater to empty bile into the second or descending part of the duodenum. 
• Both the pancreatic ducts of Santorini and Wirsung drain the exocrine pancreas. 
• Relationship to surrounding structures:
  • Head
    • Posterior
      • SMV
      • Splenic vein
      • IVC
      • Terminal portion of renal vein
      • Right crus of diaphragm
    • Anterior
      • Transverse colon
      • Uncinate process passes in front of aorta
    • Lateral
      • Bile duct
  • Neck
    • Anterior
      • Pylorus
      • Omental bursa
    • Posterior
      • SMV
      • Beginning of portal vein
  • Body
    • Anterior
      • Stomach separated by omental bursa
    • Posterior
      • Aorta
      • SMA
      • Left crus of diaphragm
      • Left adrenal
      • Left kidney
      • Left renal vein
      • Splenic vein
    • Inferior
      • Transverse mesocolon
      • Duodeno-jejunal junction
      • Left colic flexure
    • Superior border
      • Splenic artery
  • Tail
    • The tail of the pancreas lies in the splenorenal ligament and enters the hilum of the spleen with splenic vessels. 

 Applied Anatomy