Body of pancreas

The body of pancreas is somewhat prismatic in shape, and is situated between the neck and the tail of pancreas.

The body of pancreas has three surfaces and three borders:

• The anterosuperior surface (anterior surface) is somewhat concave; and is directed forward and upward: it is covered by the postero-inferior surface of the stomach which rests upon it, the two organs being separated by the omental bursa. Where it joins the neck there is a well-marked prominence, the tuber omentale, which abuts against the posterior surface of the lesser omentum.

• The posterior surface is devoid of peritoneum, and is in contact with the aorta, the splenic vein, the left kidney and its vessels, the left suprarenal gland, the origin of the superior mesenteric artery, and the crura of the diaphragm.

• The anteroinferior surface (inferior surface) is narrow on the right but broader on the left, and is covered by peritoneum; it lies upon the duodenojejunal flexure and on some coils of the jejunum; its left extremity rests on the left colic flexure.

• The superior border is blunt and flat to the right; narrow and sharp to the left, near the tail. It commences on the right in the omental tuberosity, and is in relation with the celiac artery, from which the hepatic artery courses to the right just above the gland, while the lienal artery runs toward the left in a groove along this border.

• The anterior border separates the anterior from the inferior surface, and along this border the two layers of the transverse mesocolon diverge from one another; one passing upward over the anterior surface, the other backward over the inferior surface.

• The inferior border separates the posterior from the inferior surface; the superior mesenteric vessels emerge under its right extremity.