Blumgart's Surgery of the Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas

Pancreatic physiology and functional assessment

The pancreas is a complex retroperitoneal gland with both endocrine (e.g., glucose homeostasis) and exocrine (e.g., nutrient digestion) functions. An adult human pancreas measures approximately 15 cm in length and weighs between 60 to 100 g; however, its size can…

Embryologic development of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas

Introduction The liver’s essential structure is one of layers of metabolically active hepatocytes arrayed along and around a vascular network carrying nutrient-rich blood derived from the products of intestinal absorption, otherwise semi-isolated from the systemic circulation. The biliary ducts are…