Divided pancreas differs from the accessory in that a mass of the pancreas becomes separated from the main gland, connected only by a duct. It may be transverse, ascending, or bent in various ways. Numerous variations in the ducts can be understood from their complicated development. The accessory pancreatic duct in the fetus is as large as the pancreatic duct, the preponderance of the latter being established later. The accessory duct in the adult may be larger than usual, and retain its primitive drainage, or even drain the entire gland in rare cases where the pancreatic duct is absent.
Similar variations occur in the pancreatic duct.
Rarely the pancreas may open into the duodenum by three ducts. Abnormalities of the pancreas are often associated with duodenal diverticula. A number of 17th century investigators involved in pancreatic structure are provided in the reference list. Albrecht, E. und L. Artz. A case of accessory pancreas.