THE PANCREAS

The pancreas lies largely to the right and is pressed against the abdominal roof and sublumbar organs (Figure 21-10/7). It is triangular in outline, and its apex is fitted into the second concavity of the duodenal sigmoid flexure. The right border follows the descending duodenum; the left border passes obliquely toward the left kidney. The portal vein (Figure 21-21/10) perforates the pancreas close to the caudal border. The ventral surface is directly bound to the right dorsal colon and cecal base, the dorsal surface to the right kidney and liver. The openings of its two ducts (Figure 21-21/7,8) are described with the duodenum.