The pancreas is an organ located in the upper part of the abdomen (tummy), positioned behind the stomach and in front of the spine. It lies roughly at the level where the ribs meet at the front of the body
. Anatomically, the pancreas is about 6 inches (15 cm) long and shaped like a flat pear. It extends horizontally across the abdomen, with three main parts:
- The head : the wide, rounded section on the right side of the body, nestled in the curve of the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine)
- The body : the middle portion, located between the head and tail
- The tail : the narrow end on the left side of the body, close to the spleen
The pancreas lies deep in the abdomen, mostly retroperitoneal (behind the peritoneum), and is surrounded by several important organs including the stomach (anteriorly), duodenum (curving around the head), liver, spleen, and major blood vessels
. In summary, the pancreas is located behind the stomach, in the upper abdomen, extending from the right side near the duodenum across to the left side near the spleen, and in front of the spine
