Tail of pancreas
| Tail of pancreas | |
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| 1: Head of pancreas 2: Uncinate process of pancreas 3: Pancreatic notch 4: Body of pancreas 5: Anterior surface of pancreas 6: Inferior surface of pancreas 7: Superior margin of pancreas 8: Anterior margin of pancreas 9: Inferior margin of pancreas 10: Omental tuber 11: Tail of pancreas 12: Duodenum | |
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| The duodenum and pancreas. | |
| Latin | cauda pancreatis |
| Gray's | subject #251 1201 |
The tail of the pancreas, located anatomically left near the hilum of the spleen, is not simply an anatomical distinction. The (tail or head? article edited - research suggests the head, not the tail) is the only part of the pancreas which contains Pancreatic Polypeptide (PP) cells, which are responsible for secreting pancreatic polypeptide to coordinate exocrine and islet enzyme release. PP cells are found in the tail's periphery. Beta cells (insulin secretory) and delta cells (somatostatin secretory) are found in the central part of the tail as with the rest of the pancreas.
The cells described above are located exclusively in the islet cells; their secretions reach exocrine portions of the pancreas via the capillary network surrounding the islet cell populations.
Additional Images
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Abdominal cavity.Tail of pancreas. Deep dissection.
External links
- tail+of+pancreas at eMedicine Dictionary
- SUNY Figs 37:05-09 - "The lesser peritoneal sac."
- 39:09-0104 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "The Pancreas"
- SUNY Anatomy Image 8560
- Cross section at UV pembody/body8a
- MedEd at Loyola Grossanatomy/dissector/labs/abdomen/postwall/pw1_1a.htm
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