Abstract
Arteries distributed to the head of the pancreas are morphologically clarified as dominated by the arterial arcade originating in two systems, namely the celiac trunk and the superior mesenteric artery respectively. In addition, they have complicated communication with the gastroduodenal artery in the upper part and the jejunal artery in the lower part.
Recently, many clinico-anatomical studies on the distribution of arteries distributing to the head of the pancreas have been conducted, using precised angiographic techniques. However, many controversial points should be clarified by fundamental anatomical studies. Thus, the author examined the pattern of distribution of arteries to the head of the pancreas by the corrosion-casting method in 30 Japanese fetuses and the following results were obtained.
1) Although most cases had 2 arterial arcades in the head of pancreas, one being the anterior arcade and the other the posterior, some had three arcades. The numbers of duodenal branches originating in the anterior and posterior arcades averaged 8 and 7, respectively.
2) The dorsal pancreatic artery was found in 80.2% of cases and it originated most frequently (44%) in the superior mesenteric artery. One case was peculiar in having its origin in the gastroduodenal artery.
3) The branches arising from the dorsal pancreatic artery and reaching the uncinated process anastomosed to the following arteries : (1) the upper jejunal artery in 3 cases, (2) the superior anterior pancreaticoduodenal artery in 2, and (3) the inferior mesenteric artery in one.
4) The arteries distributed to the uncinated process of the pancreas were supplied with blood from (1) the superior posterior pancreaticoduodenal artery or (2) the right hepatic artery originating in the superior mesenteric artery in 2 cases lacking the dorsal pancreatic artery.
