Pancreas

Your Parts of the Pancreas Your pancreas is shaped like an elongated pear that extends horizontally across your abdomen. The widest part, called the head, is near the center of the abdomen, the point where the stomach meets the small intestine. The middle part of the pancreas is called the neck or body, and it extends to the left, where it tapers to a thin end called the tail. There are several major blood vessels that supply blood to your pancreas and other abdominal organs, including the superior mesenteric artery, the superior mesenteric vein, the portal vein, and the celiac axis. Almost 95% of your pancreas is made up of a type of tissue that produces digestive enzymes called exocrine tissue. The other 5% is made up of cells called islets of Langerhans, which produce hormones. What Does the Pancreas Do? Your pancreas makes about 8 ounces of digestive juices every day. These juices contain enzymes to break down your food. These enzymes empty into the upper part of your small intestine and include: • Lipase, which works with • Protease, which breaks down protein in your diet and protects you from some types of bacteria and yeast that live in your intestine • Amylase, which breaks down starches into sugar so your body can use them for fuel The pancreas also produces hormones that are released directly into your blood. Hormones from your pancreas carry messages to other parts of your digestive system. The hormones produced by your pancreas are: Insulin The beta cells in yo...

What is pancreatitis? Pancreatitis is the redness and swelling (inflammation) of the pancreas. This happens when digestive juices or enzymes attack the pancreas. The pancreas lies behind your stomach on the left side of your belly. It is close to the first part of your small intestine (the duodenum). The pancreas is a gland. It does 2 main things: • It makes enzymes and sends them into your small intestine. These enzymes help break down food. • It makes the hormones insulin and glucagon and sends them into your bloodstream. These hormones control your body’s blood sugar level. Pancreatitis may be sudden (acute) or ongoing (chronic). Acute pancreatitis • Is a sudden inflammation • Lasts for a short time • Lets the pancreas return to normal afterward • May cause serious problems or be deadly in severe cases Chronic pancreatitis • Is a long-lasting inflammation that comes and goes over time • Causes permanent damage to the pancreas • Often causes scarring of pancreatic tissue • May cause the pancreas to stop making enzymes and insulin in severe cases What causes pancreatitis? The most common causes of pancreatitis include: • Alcohol abuse • Lumps of solid material (gallstones) found in the gallbladder. Gallstones block the pancreatic duct so the enzymes can’t get out of the pancreas. Other causes of pancreatitis include: • Belly injury or surgery • High levels of fat particles (triglycerides) in the blood • Very high levels of calcium in the blood • Certain medicines, such as...

Pancreatitis is inflammation of your pancreas. Pancreatitis can come and go quickly, or it can be a chronic problem. Treatment will depend on whether your pancreatitis is acute or chronic. Your pancreas sits behind your stomach, near your small intestine. It releases enzymes that help you digest food and also regulates how your body manages glucose. When the pancreas is inflamed, this process malfunctions. Read on to learn more about pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is generally acute or chronic. Necrotizing pancreatitis can result from extreme cases of acute pancreatitis. Treatment for each case of pancreatitis depends on the severity of symptoms. Acute pancreatitis Acute pancreatitis is a main cause of hospital admissions for gastrointestinal issues. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), around The onset of acute pancreatitis is often very sudden. The inflammation usually clears up within several days after treatment begins, but some cases could require a hospital stay. Acute pancreatitis is much The condition can also develop into chronic pancreatitis, especially if you smoke or drink alcohol heavily. Chronic pancreatitis Chronic pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that comes back consistently or occurs over a long period of time. People with chronic pancreatitis Pancreatitis can damage cells that produce Long-term heavy alcohol use can cause pancreatitis in adults. Autoimmune and genetic diseases, such as Necro...

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Paying close attention to your diet can help ease abdominal pain that accompanies this condition, says pancreas specialist So, it’s vital to know which foods you can eat, which ones you should avoid, and how those choices can affect your body. The pancreatitis-food link With a chronically inflamed pancreas, your body can’t produce enough of the digestive enzymes that help absorb nutrients from the foods you eat. Over time, you could become malnourished or start losing weight without trying to, Dr. Chahal says. A different diet can make it easier for your pancreas to do its job. Changes in diet don’t affect all patients the same way, however. The impact depends on whether you have an acute or chronic case of pancreatitis, she says. “Patients with mild pancreatitis can benefit from diet and lifestyle changes alone,” she says. “However, diet is not always enough, by itself, to control symptoms in moderate to severe cases.” Best foods for pancreatitis A pancreas-friendly diet is high in protein from lean meats and low in animal fats and simple sugars, Dr. Chahal says. You should eat plenty of: • Vegetables. • Fruits. • Whole grains. • Beans, lentils. • Low-fat or nonfat dairy (almond or flax milk). Antioxidant-rich foods such as dark, leafy vegetables, red berries, blueberries, sweet potatoes, grapes, carrots,...

Hi. I'm Dr. Chee-Chee Stucky, a surgical oncologist at Mayo Clinic. In this video, we'll cover the basics of pancreatic cancer: What is it? Who gets it? What are the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment? Whether you're looking for answers for yourself or someone you love, we're here to give you the best information available. Understanding pancreatic cancer starts with understanding the pancreas. This small, fish-shaped organ sits behind the stomach, producing enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that regulate blood sugar. Pancreatic cancer typically starts in the ducts of the pancreas. Small changes in the cellular DNA result in uncontrolled multiplication and accumulation of cells in clusters called tumors. If untreated, these cancer cells can spread outside of the pancreas to other parts of the body. Who gets it? While anyone can get pancreatic cancer, there are certain risk factors to be aware of. Most pancreatic cancer is diagnosed after age 65. Smoking, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas, family history of pancreatic cancer, and certain genetic syndromes are all known risk factors. Carrying extra weight that is unhealthy for your body may also be a contributing factor. New research has found that the specific combination of smoking, diabetes and poor diet increases the risk of pancreatic cancer the most beyond any one factor alone. What are the symptoms? Unfortunately, we don't usually see the signs of pancreatic cancer until it's in more ...

Anatomy of the pancreas The pancreas is an elongated, tapered organ located across the back of the belly, behind the stomach. The right side of the organ—called the head—is the widest part of the organ and lies in the curve of the duodenum, the first division of the small intestine. The tapered left side extends slightly upward—called the body of the pancreas—and ends near the spleen—called the tail. The pancreas is made up of 2 types of glands: • Exocrine. The exocrine gland secretes digestive enzymes. These enzymes are secreted into a network of ducts that join the main pancreatic duct. This runs the length of the pancreas. • Endocrine. The endocrine gland, which consists of the islets of Langerhans, secretes hormones into the bloodstream. Functions of the pancreas The pancreas has digestive and hormonal functions: • The enzymes secreted by the exocrine gland in the pancreas help break down carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and acids in the duodenum. These enzymes travel down the pancreatic duct into the bile duct in an inactive form. When they enter the duodenum, they are activated. The exocrine tissue also secretes a bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid in the duodenum. This is the first section of the small intestine. • The main hormones secreted by the endocrine gland in the pancreas are insulin and glucagon, which regulate the level of glucose in the blood, and somatostatin, which prevents the release of insulin and glucagon.

Overview Gallstones that block the pancreatic duct are one of the most common causes of pancreatitis. What is pancreatitis? Pancreatitis is inflammation in your Your pancreas is an organ in your abdomen. It sits between your stomach and your spine. If you lay your right hand across your stomach, that's roughly the size and shape of your pancreas behind it. Your pancreas is involved in digestion and regulating your blood sugar. It makes digestive What are the different types of pancreatitis? There are two types of pancreatitis: acute and chronic. Acute pancreatitis Acute pancreatitis is a temporary condition. It happens when your pancreas is attempting to recover from a minor, short-term injury. Most people with acute pancreatitis will recover completely in a few days with supportive care: rest, hydration and pain relief. However, a very severe case of acute pancreatitis can cause serious health complications, some of them life-threatening. Chronic pancreatitis Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term, progressive condition. It doesn’t go away and gets worse over time. It happens when the injury or damage to your pancreas never stops. Chronic pancreatitis will eventually do lasting damage to your pancreas, although it may take many years. Constant inflammation causes scarring of your pancreas tissues (fibrosis), which stops them from making enzymes and hormones. How common is pancreatitis? In the U.S., acute pancreatitis leads to 275,000 hospital stays per year. About 20% of the...