Anatomy of Digestive Accessory Organs

Introduction

Focus on the anatomy of salivary glands, liver, and pancreas.
These organs are considered accessory because they support the digestive system.

Major Salivary Glands:
- Parotid Gland:
  - Located at the junction of the head and neck.
  - Dark and coarse lobulation.
- Mandibular Gland:
  - Ovoid body between lingual-facial and maxillary veins.
- Sublingual Gland:
  - Composed of monostomatic and polystomatic parts.
  - Monostomatic: Single opening for secretion.
  - Polystomatic: Multiple lobes with several ducts.
- Zygomatic Gland:
  - Found in dogs and cats, located ventromedial to the zygomatic arch.
  - Globular or pyramidal shape.
Minor Salivary Glands:
- Include labial, buccal, molar, lingual, and palatine glands.

Largest gland with both endocrine and exocrine functions.
Structure:
- Deep red in color, firm but friable.
- Located caudal to the diaphragm.
- Associated with the gallbladder for bile storage.
Surfaces:
- Diaphragmatic (convex) and visceral (concave) surfaces.
Lobes:
- Four major lobes: Left, Right, Caudate, and Quadrate lobes.
- Further subdivisions into lateral and medial lobes.
Peritoneal Attachments:
- Coronary ligament, right and left triangular ligaments, falciform ligament, and hepatorenal ligament.
Functions:
- Production of bile for fat emulsification.
- Bile travels via hepatic ducts to form the common bile duct.

Irregularly lobulated organ lying near the proximal duodenum.
Structure:
- Pinkish-grey in life, yellowish-gray when preserved.
- Composed of left and right lobes, connected by the body.
Functions:
- Both endocrine and exocrine functions.
Ducts:
- Pancreatic Duct: Opens into major duodenal papilla with bile duct.
- Accessory Pancreatic Duct: Main conduit, opens on minor duodenal papilla.

Overviewed the accessory digestive organs and completed the module on the digestive system.
Prepared to take the assessment for this module.