Pancreatic duct system

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The pancreas is a retroperitoneal accessory digestive organ. It has both exocrine functions which participate in the digestion of food, and endocrine functions which serve to regulate blood sugar levels. The pancreas consists of several parts (tail, body, neck, head, uncinate process) all of which are drained by an internal system of excretory ducts which function to drain pancreatic digestive enzymes (pancreatic juices) and bile into the duodenum.

The pancreatic duct (of Wirsung) originates in the pancreatic tail and runs the entire length of the pancreas where it receives the contents of the smaller interlobular ducts. At the head of the pancreas, it converges with the common bile duct to form the hepatopancreatic ampulla (ampulla of Vater). The bile and pancreatic juices are then drained into the duodenum through the major duodenal papilla. The hepatopancreatic sphincter (of Oddi) surrounds the hepatopancreatic ampulla to allow for a controlled flow of pancreatic juices and bile.

The smaller accessory pancreatic duct, when present, drains the head of the pancreas and empties into the duodenum at the minor duodenal papilla.

The following video will help you understand the anatomy and function of the pancreatic duct system:

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