The pancreas is a gland that is about six inches long and is located in the abdomen. It is surrounded by the stomach, liver, small intestine, gallbladder and spleen. The wide end of the pancreas is on the right side of the body and is called the head. The middle sections are the neck and body and the thin end on the left side of the body is called the tail.
3D medical animation still showing Pancreas
Functions of the Pancreas
The pancreas is both an exocrine as well as an endocrine gland and it’s two main functions are digestion and regulation of blood sugar.
The exocrine glands produce enzymes that help in digestion. When food enters the stomach, pancreatic juice secreted by exocrine cells are released into the duodenum (part of the small intestine) through the pancreatic duct. This juice contains bicarbonate and digestive enzymes. The bicarbonate neutralises the acid entering the duodenum from the stomach and the enzymes break down the carbohydrates, lipids and proteins in the ingested food entering the duodenum from the stomach.
The endocrine gland of the pancreas creates and releases important hormones directly into the bloodstream. Insulin and glucagon are the two major types of pancreatic hormones. Insulin lowers the blood sugar levels and glucagon raises the blood sugar levels. These two hormones work together to maintain proper level of sugar in the blood. Maintaining proper blood sugar levels is very important for the functioning of all organs including kidneys, brain and liver.
Diseases of the Pancreas
Disorder in the functioning of the pancreas can give rise to diabetes type 1, diabetes type 2, pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, pancreatic pseudocyst and cystic fibrosis. Each disorder may give rise to different symptoms and may require different treatment.
Disclaimer: The information in no way constitutes, or should be construed as medical advice. Nor is the above article an endorsement of any research findings discussed in the article an endorsement for any of the source publications.
References:
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