The Pancreatic Sphincter

The pancreas was one of the last organs to receive the critical attention of early anatomists and physiologists; but since Langerhans described it histologically in 1869, its anatomy and physiology have been the subject of close scrutiny. The pancreatic sphincter mechanism, however, which normally should allow pancreatic secretion to flow into the duodenum and prevent reflux of bile or duodenal contents into the pancreatic ducts, has been difficult to study. Consequently, its physiological functions and the factors that control these functions are largely enigmatic.