The first sequence animates the early development of the pancreas, gallbladder and liver starting with an approximately 24-day-old embryo viewed in 3D. The diagram details, among numerous other structures, the hepatobiliary and pancreatic buds. During the next 8 days of development, the liver and gallbladder develop from the hepatobiliary bud, and the ventral and dorsal pancreatic buds start to grow from the duodenum. The embryo is cut at the level of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreatic buds; the sectioned surface is observed in 3D under somewhat higher magnification. The diagram shows the ventral mesogastrium with the liver bud, stomach, dorsal mesogastrium, duodenum, future hepatic duct, gallbladder, future bile duct, future major papilla, and ventral and dorsal pancreatic buds aligned in the mediosagittal plane. Clockwise rotation of these organs between the 5th and 6th week is animated. The diagram details pancreatic buds with their excretory canals, minor and major papillae, and bile-, cystic-, and hepatic ducts. The next sequence shows the fusion of the ventral pancreatic bud with the dorsal pancreatic bud and the formation of the main pancreatic duct in an approximately 7-week-old embryo. Cases of a unique major papilla as well as major and minor papilla are animated.

The next sequences are dedicated to the development of the pancreas as viewed from above. An embryo at the end of the 5th week is cut transversally at the level of the pancreatic buds. The image is projected toward the spectator and somewhat magnified. The first diagram shows the duodenum with the ventral and dorsal pancreatic buds within the dorsal mesentery. Several other details are shown.

In a 5-week-old embryo, the ventral and dorsal pancreatic buds grow, remaining in contact with the duodenum through their excretory canals. One week later, the duodenum and pancreatic buds rotate, and the excretory canals fuse. In addition, the bile duct extends. Finally, the duodenum and pancreas reach a secondary retroperitoneal position in an 8-week-old fetus.

The following malformations of the pancreas, gallbladder, and bile pathways are animated: annular pancreas, mucovicidosis, heterotopic pancreatic tissue, and anomalies of the gallbladder and bile pathways.

(This animation is essential for students of medicine, veterinary medicine, and biology as well as for departments of anatomy, histology, embryology, physiology, and cell biology; it is also recommended for students of stomatology and departments or clinics of gastroenterology.)