Wirsung

Wirsung, or the ductus pancreaticus, commonly called the main pancreatic duct, is the principal pancreatic duct in humans. It collects secretions from the exocrine pancreas and transports them to the duodenum.

Anatomy: The duct runs through the length of the pancreas from the tail to the head, where it typically joins the common bile duct to form the hepatopancreatic ampulla (ampulla of Vater). It opens into the second part of the duodenum at the major duodenal papilla, controlled by the sphincter of Oddi. The main pancreatic duct may be accompanied by an accessory duct (duct of Santorini) in some individuals, which drains via the minor papilla.

Development: The duct of Wirsung results from the fusion of the dorsal and ventral pancreatic ducts during embryogenesis. In most individuals, it remains the dominant drainage channel for pancreatic secretions.

Clinical significance: Obstruction or narrowing of the Wirsung duct can impede pancreatic juice drainage, contributing to pancreatitis or pancreatic pseudocysts. Pancreatic stones or tumors may involve or compress the duct, and imaging studies such as MRCP or ERCP are used for evaluation. Variants in ductal anatomy, including a dominant duct of Santorini or pancreas divisum (where the ducts fail to fuse completely), can affect drainage patterns and susceptibility to pancreatitis.

History: The duct is named after Johann Georg Wirsung, a German anatomist who described the structure in the context of pancreatic anatomy.