Expansion
Aorta, inferior vena cava, portal vein and left kidney behind; stomach in front
Expansion
Anteriorly - the lesser sac and, through it, the stomach; the transverse mesocolon attaches along the front of the body
Posteriorly, from right to left:
- Inferior vena cava and the right renal vessels
- Bile duct, in a groove in the head
- Aorta and the origin of the superior mesenteric artery
- Splenic vein, running along the back of the body
- Left kidney and left adrenal gland
Three consequences follow:
- Pain is felt in the epigastrium radiating to the back, because of the retroperitoneal position
- A pseudocyst collects in the lesser sac
- Severe pancreatitis can thrombose the splenic vein, causing left-sided (segmental) portal hypertension with isolated gastric varices