[Surgical importance of anatomic features of the pancreatic head and tail]

The surgical anatomy of the left pancreatic portion includes topography of this entity in relation to the peritoneum and the adjacent organs, variations of the arterial vascularization and venous drainage, and of the ductal system. A particular emphasis was on the practical significance of the variations of the pancreatic tail, the arterial anastomoses of the corporocaudeal region, and the position and morphology of the pancreatic veins. Ending remarks include a small review on distal pancreatectomy.