The pancreas is a soft, elongated gland behind the stomach at the back of the upper abdomen. Its exocrine tissue releases digestive enzymes through the pancreatic duct into the duodenum, and its islets of Langerhans release the hormones insulin and glucagon into the blood. It has a head, neck, body and tail.
| Location | Retroperitoneal, behind the stomach, with the head in the curve of the duodenum and the tail reaching the splenic hilum. |
|---|---|
| Structure | Head, uncinate process, neck, body and tail; main pancreatic duct and accessory duct; acini and islets. |
| Function | Exocrine: digestive enzymes and bicarbonate. Endocrine: insulin, glucagon and somatostatin. |
| Blood supply | Splenic artery, superior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries. |
| Innervation | Vagus nerve and celiac and superior mesenteric plexuses. |
3D model: BodyParts3D (CC BY 4.0), adult male reference anatomy. Highlighted structure shown with nearby bones for context.
The common bile duct passes through or behind the head of the pancreas before joining the main pancreatic duct at the hepatopancreatic ampulla.
It produces digestive enzymes (exocrine function) and hormones such as insulin and glucagon (endocrine function).
Behind the stomach in the upper abdomen.
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