Anatomy of Duodenum
Location and Description
• The duodenum is a C-shaped tube, about 10 in.
(25 cm) long.
• joins the stomach to the jejunum.
• It receives the openings of the bile and pancreatic
ducts.
• The duodenum curves around the head of the
pancreas
• The duodenum is only partially covered by
peritoneum
Source : Snell Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Parts of Duodenum
• The duodenum is situated in the epigastric
and umbilical regions
• It is divided into four parts.
• First Part of the Duodenum
– begins at the pylorus and runs upward and
backward on the transpyloric plane at the level of
the 1st lumbar vertebra
Source : Snell Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
First Part of the Duodenum
• The relations of this part are as follows:
– Anteriorly: The quadrate lobe of the liver and the
gallbladder
– Posteriorly: The lesser sac (first inch only), the
gastroduodenal artery, the bile duct and the portal
vein, and the inferior vena cava
– Superiorly: The entrance into the lesser sac (the
epiploic foramen
– Inferiorly: The head of the pancreas
Source : Snell Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Second Part of the Duodenum
• Runs vertically downward in front of the hilum of the
right kidney on the right side of the 2nd and 3rd
lumbar vertebrae
• The relations of this part are as follows:
– Anteriorly: The fundus of the gallbladder and the right
lobe of the liver, the transverse colon, and the coils of the
small intestine
– Posteriorly: The hilum of the right kidney and the right
ureter
– Laterally: The ascending colon, the right colic flexure, and
the right lobe of the liver
– Medially: The head of the pancreas, the bile duct, and the
main pancreatic duct
Source : Snell Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Source : Snell Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Third Part of the Duodenum
• Runs horizontally following the lower margin of
the head of the pancreas
• The relations of this part are as follows:
– Anteriorly: The root of the mesentery of the small
intestine, the superior mesenteric vessels contained
within it, and coils of jejunum
– Posteriorly: The right ureter, the right psoas muscle,
the inferior vena cava, and the aorta
– Superiorly: The head of the pancreas
– Inferiorly: Coils of jejunum
Source : Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Fourth Part of the Duodenum
• Runs upward and to the left to the
duodenojejunal flexure
• The flexure is held in position by a peritoneal
fold, the ligament of Treitz, which is attached to
the right crus of the diaphragm
• The relations of this part are as follows :
– Anteriorly: The beginning of the root of the
mesentery and coils of jejunum
– Posteriorly: The left margin of the aorta and the
medial border of the left psoas muscle
Source : Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Source : Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Mucous Membrane and Duodenal
Papillae
• The mucous membrane of the duodenum is
thick.
• In the first part, it is smooth
• In the remainder, it is thrown into numerous
circular (folds called the plicae circulares)
• At the site where the bile duct and the main
pancreatic duct pierce the medial wall of the
second part is a small, rounded elevation
called the major duodenal papilla
Source : Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Source : Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Blood Supply
• Arteries
– The upper half is supplied by the superior
pancreaticoduodenal artery, a branch of the
gastroduodenal artery.
– The lower half is supplied by the inferior
pancreaticoduodenal artery, a branch of the
superior mesenteric artery.
Source : Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Source : Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Source : Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Blood Supply
• Veins
– The superior pancreaticoduodenal vein drains into
the portal vein.
– The inferior vein joins the superior mesenteric
vein
Source : Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Source : Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Lymph Drainage
• The lymph vessels follow the arteries
• Drains upward via pancreaticoduodenal nodes
gastroduodenal nodes celiac nodes
• Downward via pancreaticoduodenal nodes
the superior mesenteric nodes around the
origin of the superior mesenteric artery
Source : Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Nerve Supply
• Derived from sympathetic and
parasympathetic (vagus) nerves from the
celiac and superior mesenteric plexuses
Source : Clinical Anatomy By Regions edition 9
Physiology
• Digestion and
Absorption
– digestion and
eventual absorption
of nutrients, water,
electrolytes, and
minerals
Source :sabiston textbook of surgery : the biological basis of modern surgical practice, 20th edition
Motility
• Peristalsis consists of intestinal contractions
passing aborally at a rate of 1 to 2 cm/sec.
• Pacesetter potentials, which are thought to
originate in the duodenum, initiate a series of
contractions in the fed state that propel food
through the smallbowel.
Source :sabiston textbook of surgery : the biological basis of modern surgical practice, 20th edition
Histology
• consists of four layers:
– the mucosa with the lining epithelium, lamina propria ,
muscularis mucosae;
– the underlying connective tissue submucosa with the
mucous duodenal (Brunner’s) glands;
– the two smooth muscle layers of the muscularis externa;
– the visceral peritoneum serosa (15).
• Villi in duodenum are broad, tall, and numerous, with
fewer goblet cells in the epothelium.
• Branched duodenal (Brunner’s) glands with mucus-
secreting cells in the submucosa characterize this
region
Source :diFiore’s, Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations eleventh Edition
Source :diFiore’s, Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations eleventh Edition
Functional Correlations
• Duodenal glands secrete or release their
product into the lumen in response to the
entrance of acidic chyme from the stomach
and parasympathetic stimulation by the vagus
nerve.
• The main function of the duodenal glands is to
protect the mucosa from the highly corrosive
action of the gastric contents.
Source :diFiore’s, Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations eleventh Edition
