pancreatic duct

noun

: a duct leading from the pancreas and opening into the duodenum

Examples of pancreatic duct in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The pain of pancreatitis comes from fat-digesting enzymes leaking from the pancreatic duct system into surrounding tissues, literally eating you from within. —

Leeaundra Keany, Discover Magazine, 7 Jan. 2010 The pancreas also has tubes–the main one being the pancreatic duct. —

Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pancreatic duct.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of pancreatic duct was in 1784

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Dictionary Entries Near pancreatic duct

pancreatectomy

pancreatic duct

pancreatic juice

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Cite this Entry

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“Pancreatic duct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pancreatic%20duct. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

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Kids Definition

pancreatic duct

noun

: a duct leading from the pancreas and opening into the duodenum

Medical Definition

pancreatic duct

noun

: a duct connecting the pancreas with the intestine:

: the chief duct of the pancreas that runs from left to right through the body of the gland, passes out its neck, and empties into the duodenum either through an opening shared with the common bile duct or through one close to it

called also duct of Wirsung, Wirsung's duct