[Topographic and structural characteristics of the minor duodenal papilla].

The study of minor duodenal papilla topography and structure was carried out on 36 fresh autopsy specimens of human duodenopancreas. We performed precise measurements of its distance to the major duodenal papilla and to the superior duodenal flexure. There was no correlation between the position of the minor papilla and the incidence of duodenal ulcer disease. Microdissection and histological staining of the minor papilla did not reveal an anatomically defined sphincter around the terminal portion of the accessory pancreatic duct. All the specimens of the minor papilla contained within acini of pancreatic tissue. A terminal dilation of the accessory pancreatic duct was found in 22% of the cases.