[comptiger5000]

On any engine I've seen or heard of, the oil pump is connected directly to the pickup tube that draws from the pan. The oil is pumped through the filter under pressure, although the sender for the gauge is after the filter, so a restricted filter will show as lower oil pressure. The can on the filter is surprisingly strong, and most can handle over 100 psi of oil pressure without bursting.

There have been rare occurrences, however, of filters exploding when a cold engine with thick oil is redlined, and so much pressure builds that the oil pump relief and filter bypass cannot flow enough to relieve the pressure, and the filter either blows off, or explodes.