The Pancreas

by esi & luke.

An Introduction to the Pancreas

Location

→ The pancreas is located deep within the abdomen of the body, beneath the liver.

An Introduction the Pancreas (continued)

The Pancreas is roughly the size of a banana which has been stepped on or flattened.

It is made up of two different types of tissues:

→ islets of Langerhans

→ darker surrounding tissues

Because the pancreas secretes both digestive enzymes & several important hormones, it is at once an exocrine gland and an endocrine gland.

Exocrine Portion

→ The exocrine portion of the pancreas is made up of the darker tissue that surrounds the islets of Langerhans

→ Its main function is to secrete enzymes to break down food

Endocrine Portion→ The endocrine portion of the

pancreas is made up of the islets of Langerhans.

→ There are four types of cells within the islets, and they are responsible for secreting the following hormones: Insulin & amylin, which

lower blood sugar Glucagon, which raises

blood sugar Somatostatin, which

inhibits the endocrine pancreatic portion

Pancreatic polypeptide, which inhibits the exocrine pancreatic portion

Diseases Associated with the Pancreas

Diabetes mellitus

Benign tumours

Cystic fibrosis

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Hemosuccus pancreaticus

Pancreatitis

Pancreatic pseudocyst

Diseases Associated with the Pancreas (continued)

Diabetes Mellitus

→ diabetes is a disease which is related to the body’s inability to produce a sufficient amount of insulin, or it’s inability to utilize it.

→ There are three types of this disease, type one diabetes, type two diabetes, and gestational diabetes. type one diabetes usually affects children, adolescents, & young

adults In type one diabetes, one’s body does not produce a

sufficient amount of insulin. Type two diabetes usually affects overweight adults, though it has

been diagnosed in young adults, and in rare cases, children. In type two diabetes, one’s body produces insulin, but cannot

utilize it. Gestational diabetes occurs in 2%-4% of pregnant women, but

normally disappears after the baby is born. In gestational diabetes, a woman undergoes a period of

glucose intolerance.

→ we have a song to help you to better understand diabetes.

Interesting…

Have you ever had sweetbread?

Sweetbread is the pancreas of a lamb or goat.

Bibliography

http://www.endocrineweb.com/pancreas.html

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Gray1100.png

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreas

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ccdpc-cpcmc/diabetes-diabete/english/whatis/index.html

Nelson Biology Twelve