Pancreas diagram

The pancreas aids in digestion by producing enzymes that digest several types of nutrients, including proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and nucleic acid, a common acid that acts as building block in DNA and is essential for all living things. The pancreas also produces large amounts of fluid that protects the lining of the small intestine from the acidic chyme (partially-digested food) that it receives from the stomach. This fluid collects in a main duct that joins with a common bile duct. The fluid and bile wait to be released into the duodenum when the stomach releases food. The pancreas also functions as an endocrine gland by producing two very important hormones that help regulate the level of sugar in the blood: insulin and glucagon. People whose pancreases do not produce enough insulin have a condition known as diabetes. Type 1 diabetics have a pancreas that does not produce any insulin, and they must administer the hormone via injections through their skin. Type 2 diabetics produce an insufficient amount of insulin. The pancreas can stop producing insulin for a variety of reasons. Poor diet, obesity, and a genetic disposition for the condition are among the most common causes of diabetes. Spleen The spleen is a fist-sized organ of the lymphatic system that operates as filter for blood. It helps ward off infections and maintains body-fluid balance. In addition to filtering blood through pulp-like tissue, the spleen also houses two very important types of immunity-relate...

• Acute pancreatitis is sudden • Chronic pancreatitis is long-lasting What Are the Symptoms of Pancreatitis? Symptoms of acute pancreatitis • • Higher • • Swollen and tender belly • Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis The symptoms of chronic pancreatitis are similar to those of acute pancreatitis. But you may also have: • Constant pain in your upper belly that radiates to your back. This pain may be disabling. • • Upset stomach and vomiting What Are the Pancreatitis Causes and Risk Factors? Acute pancreatitis causes include: • • Drinking lots of alcohol • Infections • • • • Surgery • Trauma In up to 15% of people with acute pancreatitis, the cause is unknown. Chronic pancreatitis causes include: • • • Gallstones • High • Longtime alcohol use • Medications In about 20% to 30% of cases, the cause of chronic pancreatitis is unknown. People with chronic pancreatitis are usually men between ages 30 and 40. African Americans are more likely to have pancreatitis than other racial groups in the U.S. Can Pancreatitis Cause Complications? Pancreatitis can have severe complications, including: • • Infection of your pancreas • Kidney failure • Malnutrition if your body can’t get enough nutrients from the food you eat because of a lack of digestive enzymes • • Pancreatic necrosis, when tissues die because your pancreas isn’t getting enough • Problems with your • Pseudocysts, when fluid collects in pockets on your pancreas. They can burst and become infected. How Is Pancreatitis Diagnosed?...

Pancreatitis caused by gallstones Gallstones are a common cause of pancreatitis. Gallstones, produced in the gallbladder, can slip out of the gallbladder and block the bile duct, stopping pancreatic enzymes from traveling to the small intestine and forcing them back into the pancreas. The enzymes then begin to irritate the cells of the pancreas, causing the inflammation associated with pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a long, flat gland that sits tucked behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. The pancreas produces enzymes that help digestion and hormones that help regulate the way your body processes sugar (glucose). Pancreatitis can occur as acute pancreatitis — meaning it appears suddenly and lasts for days. Some people develop chronic pancreatitis, which is pancreatitis that occurs over many years. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of pancreatitis may vary, depending on which type you experience. Acute pancreatitis signs and symptoms include: • Upper abdominal pain • Abdominal pain that radiates to your back • Tenderness when touching the abdomen • Fever • Rapid pulse • Nausea • Vomiting Chronic pancreatitis signs and symptoms include: • Upper abdominal pain • Abdominal pain that feels worse after eating • Losing weight without trying • Oily, smelly stools (steatorrhea) When to see a doctor Make an appointment with your doctor if you have acute onset or persistent abdominal pain. Seek immediate medical help if your abdominal pain is...

Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: Explain the role of the pancreatic endocrine cells in the regulation of blood glucose • Describe the location and structure of the pancreas, and the morphology and function of the pancreatic islets • Compare and contrast the function and regulation of insulin and glucagon The pancreas is a long, slender organ, most of which is located posterior to the bottom half of the stomach ( pancreatic islets—clusters of cells formerly known as the islets of Langerhans—secrete the hormones glucagon, insulin, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide (PP). Figure 17.9.1 – Pancreas Pancreas endocrine function involves the secretion of insulin (produced by beta cells) and glucagon (produced by alpha cells) within the pancreatic islets. These two hormones regulate the rate of glucose metabolism in the body. The micrograph reveals pancreatic islets. LM × 760. Also shown are the exocrine acinar cells. (Micrograph provided by the Regents of University of Michigan Medical School © 2012. View the University of Michigan WebScope at Cells and Secretions of the Pancreatic Islets The pancreatic islets each contain four varieties of cells: • The alpha cell produces the hormone glucagon and makes up approximately 20 percent of each islet. Low blood glucose levels stimulate the release of glucagon. • The beta cell produces the hormone insulin and makes up approximately 75 percent of each islet. Elevated blood glucose levels sti...

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.