This illustration depicts the anterior view of the abdomen and compares a normal pancreas and bile duct anatomy with the pancreas of a patient with pancreatitis. The normal abdomen anatomy in this view includes the liver, stomach, portal vein, pancreas, duodenum, bile duct, and the gallbladder. The normal pancreas shows pancreatic enzymes released into the small intestine (duodenum) which then dissolves food. The pancreas with pancreatitis shows inflammation and digestive juices being secreted into the pancreas, resulting in digestion of the pancreatic tissue. This condition can worsen and lead to widespread inflammation and necrosis of the pancreas.
