The pancreas of the ox is irregularly quadrilateral in form, and lies
almost entirely to the right of the median plane. Its weight is about
the same as that of the horse. Its dorsal surface is related to the
crura of the diaphragm, the cœliac and anterior mesenteric arteries, and
the liver. It is attached to the liver at and external to the portal
fissure, and to the crura of the diaphragm. Between these adhesions it
is free and forms the ventral wall of the epiploic foramen (of Winslow).
On the right side it extends backward beyond the caudate lobe of the
liver between the layers of the mesoduodenum; here it is in contact with
the upper part of the flank at the lumbo-costal angle, and is related
above to the right kidney and by its ventro-lateral border to the
ventral part of the duodenum. The gastro-intestinal or ventral surface
is in contact with the dorsal curvature of the rumen and the intestine.
The portal vein passes through the gland. The left extremity is small;
the right or posterior is wide and thin and is often divided into two
branches. The duct leaves the posterior part of the ventro-lateral (or
right) border and enters the duodenum about twelve inches (ca. 30 cm.)
further back than the bile-duct.
[Illustration:
FIG. 300.—SPLEEN OF OX; VISCERAL SURFACE.
]