|
|||||||
|
Morphometric and Morphological Variations of the Main Pancreatic Duct: A Cross-sectional Cadaveric Study |
|||||||
|
Narmada Lakshminarayanan, Nandhini Periyasamy, Anitha Venkateswaran 1. Phase 3 Undergraduate Student, Department of Anatomy, Kanyakumari Government Medical College, Asaripallam, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India. 2. Phase 3 Undergraduate Student, Department of Anatomy, Kanyakumari Government Medical College, Asaripallam, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India. 3. Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy, Kanyakumari Government Medical College, Asaripallam, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India. |
|||||||
|
Correspondence Address : Dr. Anitha Venkateswaran, Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy, Kanyakumari Government Medical College, Asaripallam, Kanyakumari-629201, Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail: dranitharamesh@gmail.com |
|||||||
|
|||||||
| ABSTRACT |  | ||||||
: Introduction: The pancreatic ductal system consists of two major ducts: the main pancreatic duct and the accessory pancreatic duct. These ducts drain the exocrine part of the pancreas. Knowledge of the anatomical variations of the pancreatic duct system is important during procedures such as Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). Aim: To study the morphometric and morphological variations in the course of the main pancreatic duct. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional cadaveric study was conducted on 50 formalin fixed pancreatic specimens from October 2023 to November 2025 in the Department of Anatomy, Kanyakumari Government Medical College, Asaripallam, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India. The pancreases were dissected, and the main pancreatic duct was traced to study its length, width, and course pattern. Measurements were taken using thread and vernier calipers, and the course patterns were documented. Results: The present study showed that the mean length of the main pancreatic duct was 17.5±2.8 cm. The mean width of the duct was 3.1±0.4 mm in the head, 2.4±0.3 mm in the body, and 1.3±0.3 mm in the tail. Out of the 50 pancreases studied, 25 showed a descending pattern (50%), 24 showed a sigmoid pattern (48%) and one specimen showed a loop pattern (2%). Conclusion: Knowledge of the course and opening of the duct is essential in the management of pancreatitis, gallbladder carcinoma, and cholelithiasis. | |||||||
|
|
|||||||
| Keywords : Anatomical variation, Cadaver, Duct of Wirsung, Pancreatitis, Patterns | |||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
DOI and Others :
DOI: 10.7860/IJARS/2026/87802.3128
Date of Submission: Jan 30, 2026 Date of Peer Review: Apr 17, 2026 Date of Acceptance: Jul 01, 2026 Date of Publishing: Sep 01, 2026 AUTHOR DECLARATION: • Financial or Other Competing Interests: None • Was Ethics Committee Approval Obtained for this study? Yes • Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? No • For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. No PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS: • Plagiarism X-checker: Feb 02, 2026 • Manual Googling: Jun 24, 2026 • iThenticate Software: Jun 30, 2026 (12%) ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin EMENDATIONS: 8 |
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
Original article / research
|
Full Version