Which anomaly results from two embryonic pancreatic buds not fusing, leading to separate ductal systems?

Which anomaly results from two embryonic pancreatic buds not fusing, leading to separate ductal systems?

• A. Aberrant Tissue
• B. Annular Pancreas
• C. Pancreas divisum
• D. Pancreatic Cyst

Answer: (C)

Pancreas divisum occurs when the ducts from the dorsal and ventral pancreatic buds fail to fuse during development. The pancreas forms from two buds, and their ducts normally join to create a single main drainage channel into the duodenum. If fusion doesn’t happen, two separate ductal systems persist: the dorsal duct mainly drains through the minor papilla, while the ventral duct drains via the major papilla. This arrangement is the hallmark of the anomaly and is the most common congenital pancreatic duct abnormality; it can be asymptomatic or predispose to pancreatitis due to restricted drainage through the minor papilla. The other conditions involve different embryologic mishaps—annular pancreas encircles the duodenum, aberrant tissue is heterotopic pancreatic tissue, and a pancreatic cyst is a cystic lesion—so they don’t describe nonfusion of the pancreatic ducts.

Pancreas divisum occurs when the ducts from the dorsal and ventral pancreatic buds fail to fuse during development. The pancreas forms from two buds, and their ducts normally join to create a single main drainage channel into the duodenum. If fusion doesn’t happen, two separate ductal systems persist: the dorsal duct mainly drains through the minor papilla, while the ventral duct drains via the major papilla. This arrangement is the hallmark of the anomaly and is the most common congenital pancreatic duct abnormality; it can be asymptomatic or predispose to pancreatitis due to restricted drainage through the minor papilla. The other conditions involve different embryologic mishaps—annular pancreas encircles the duodenum, aberrant tissue is heterotopic pancreatic tissue, and a pancreatic cyst is a cystic lesion—so they don’t describe nonfusion of the pancreatic ducts.