Pancreatic duct
Overview
| Pancreatic duct | |
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| The pancreatic duct. | |
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| Latin | ductus pancreaticus |
| Gray's | subject #251 1202 |
| Precursor | Pancreatic bud |
| MeSH | Pancreatic+Ducts |
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The pancreatic duct, or duct of Wirsung, is a duct joining the pancreas to the common bile duct to supply pancreatic juices which aid in digestion provided by the "exocrine pancreas". The pancreatic duct joins the common bile duct just prior to the ampulla of Vater, after which both ducts perforate the medial side of the second portion of the duodenum at the major duodenal papilla.
The duct of Wirsung is named after its discoverer, German anatomist Johann Georg Wirsung (1589-1643).
Accessory pancreatic duct
Most people have just one pancreatic duct. However, some have an additional "accessory pancreatic duct", called the Duct of Santorini, which connects straight to the duodenum at the minor duodenal papilla. Both these ducts connect to the second part (the vertical one) of the duodenum.
However, the Duct of Santorini, which bypasses the Ampulla of Vater, is non-functional whereas the Duct of Wirsung is functional and carries the digestive enzymes released by the pancreas.
Clinical significance
Compression, obstruction or inflammation of the pancreatic duct may lead to acute pancreatitis. The most common cause for obstruction is choledocholithiasis, or gallstones in the common bile duct.
Additional images
Accessory digestive system.
Interior of the descending portion of the duodenum, showing bile papilla.
Pancreas of a human embryo of five weeks.
Pancreas of a human embryo at end of sixth week.
Anatomy of torso, digestive system: Digestive glands | |
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| Liver | by region: Left lobe (Caudate lobe, Quadrate lobe) • Right lobe • Transverse fissure of liver
by function: Fibrous capsule of Glisson • Hepatocyte • Space of Disse • Space of Mall • Kupffer cell • Liver sinusoid • Ito cell • Hepatic lobule bile ducts: Bile canaliculus • Canals of Hering • Interlobular bile ducts • Intrahepatic bile ducts • Left and Right hepatic ducts • Common hepatic duct |
| Gallbladder | by region: Body • Fundus • Neck ducts: Cystic duct |
| Pancreas | by region: Tail • Body • Head • Uncinate process
by function: Islets of Langerhans • Exocrine pancreas ducts: Pancreatic duct • Accessory pancreatic duct |
| Common | Common bile duct • Hepatopancreatic ampulla • Sphincter of Oddi |
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