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Updated: Mar 9, 2026
Collection Protocol for Human Pancreas
Published on: May 23, 2012
Morphometric Study of Pancreas in Human Fetuses
Abhijeet S Dhende1, Mahendra A Kathole2, Deepak S Joshi3
1Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Seth G.S. Medical College & K.E.M. Hospital , Mumbai, Maharashtra, India .
Introduction:
The pancreas arises from the endoderm as a dorsal and a ventral bud which fuse together to form the single organ. It extends transversely across the posterior abdominal wall from the duodenum to the spleen. Functionally, it is endocrine and exocrine.
Aim:
This study was undertaken to study the morphometry of human pancreas at different gestational age groups of normal, still born fetuses.
Materials And Methods:
Forty aborted human fetuses (25 male and 15 female) of 12-40 weeks gestational age with no obvious congenital abnormality were obtained. The fetuses were dissected and pancreas was removed. The length and weight of the pancreas as well as height of its head were noted.
Results:
It was observed that there was increase in body weight and crown rump length with increasing gestational age. The average length of pancreas was 1.80 cm in 12th week and 4.70 cm in 40th week of gestation. The average height of pancreas head was 0.80 cm in the 12th and 2.70 cm in 40th week of gestation.
Conclusion:
The knowledge of development of pancreas helps in planning new therapeutic interventions in the treatment of various congenital and functional pancreatic anomalies.
