Pancreas

Pancreas. The pancreas is a gland which is situated in the abdominal cavity in close relation with the duodenum; the pancreatic duct discharges its contents into that portion of the small intestine some two or three inches from the pyloric end of the stomach. The pancreas is a long narrow structure having an expanded head at its right extremity. It presents some resemblance, when examined microscopically, to a salivary gland. (For the function of the pancreatic juice in digestion, see article on that subject.)