Human Pancreason Base

Pancreatic Anatomy

The head (often called the base) nests in the curve of the duodenum and lies near major blood vessels like the superior mesenteric artery and vein.

The neck is a short segment that connects the head to the body, sitting in front of the portal vein.

The body extends leftwards, behind the stomach, and is the largest section, resting atop the aorta, left kidney, and other structures.

The tail is the narrowest portion, reaching toward the spleen.

Ducts and Blood Supply

Two ducts traverse the pancreas: the main pancreatic duct and a smaller accessory duct, both crucial for delivering digestive enzymes to the duodenum.

Arterial supply comes from the splenic, superior mesenteric, and common hepatic arteries; venous return is mostly through the splenic and superior mesenteric veins.

Function

The exocrine part of the pancreas releases digestive enzymes into the small intestine, while the endocrine portion (islets of Langerhans) secretes hormones like insulin and glucagon into the blood to regulate sugar levels.