If you have diabetes or you are just someone who is highly interested in living a healthy live, you will have heard about the organ called pancreas before. Especially, in relation to diabetes.

The Pancreas

The pancreas is an organ, about six inches long, located in the abdomen. It is shaped like a flat pear and is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, liver, spleen and gallbladder.

It plays an essential role in converting the food we eat into fuel for the body’s cells to make use of. In simple terms, a healthy pancreas produces the correct chemicals in the proper quantities, at the right times, to digest the foods we eat.

The pancreas is also a digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing bicarbonate to neutralize acidity of chyme (the pulpy acidic fluid which passes from the stomach to the small intestine, consisting of gastric juices and partly digested food) moving in from the stomach, as well as digestive enzymes that assist digestion and absorption of nutrients in the small intestine.

These enzymes help to further break down the carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids in the chyme. The pancreas is known as a mixed gland.

Basically, the pancreas has two main functions: an exocrine function that helps in digestion and an endocrine function that regulates blood sugar.

Functions of the Pancreas

Exocrine Function: The pancreas contains exocrine glands that produce enzymes important to digestion. These enzymes include trypsin and chymotrypsin to digest proteins; amylase for the digestion of carbohydrates; and lipase to break down fats.

When food enters the stomach, these pancreatic juices are released into a system of ducts that culminate in the main pancreatic duct. The pancreatic duct joins the common bile duct to form the ampulla of Vater which is located at the first portion of the small intestine, called the duodenum. The common bile duct originates in the liver and the gallbladder and produces another important digestive juice called bile.

The pancreatic juices and bile that are released into the duodenum, help the body to digest fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.

Endocrine Function: The endocrine component of the pancreas consists of islet cells (islets of Langerhans) that create and release important hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Two of the main pancreatic hormones are insulin (which acts to lower blood sugar) and glucagon (which acts to raise blood sugar).

Maintaining proper blood sugar levels is ...read more on https://www.planbwellness.com/the-organ-called-pancreas/