Pancreas

  
   

Definition Pancreas

  
The pancreas is an organ which lies in the center of our bodies, hidden behind the stomach and next to the spine (Fig. 1). It can be divided roughly into three parts: the head, the body and the tail (Fig. 2). The head of the pancreas is closely connected to the first part of the small intestine, known as the duodenum . The common bile duct traverses through the head of the pancreas up to where it joins with the pancreatic duct at the so called papilla to flow into the duodenum. The tail of the pancreas has a closer connection to the spleen . The body of the pancreas lies directly in front of the point where a number of important arteries leave the aorta to supply blood to the liver, the stomach, the upper part of the intestine and the pancreas itself.  
   
 
   
 
   

Basically, the pancreas has two functions:
1. The pancreas is important in the digestion process.
2. The pancreas regulates the levels of sugar in the blood.

The Pancreas and Digestion
The pancreas produces enzymes which are important in digestion. These enzymes are produced in the form of gastric juices in specialised cells throughout the pancreas These juices travel down a wide system of ducts before gathering in the main pancreatic duct and being directed towards the duodenum. Shortly before flowing into the duodenum, the pancreatic secretions , rich in digestive enzymes, merge with bile which comes from the liver. This mixture of secretions enters the duodenum , where the pancreatic enzymes are activated in order to digest the food coming from the stomach.

The pancreas produces around 30 different digestive enzymes, which after activation are capable of breaking food down into its smallest elements. Although these enzymes are produced in the pancreas they are only activated when they have reached the duodenum where they are meant to fulfil their tasks. This prevents the enzymes from digesting the pancreas itself. The three most important enzymes produced in the pancreas are:
Amylase : digests the majority of carbohydrates
Trypsin : digests the majority of proteins
Lipase : digests the majority of fats

The breakdown of food into its constituent parts is necessary in order that the body can absorb these through the intestines. In the absence of the pancreatic enzymes, sugars, proteins and fats will not be broken down properly and the intestines will not be able to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream. This can lead to serious diarrhoea, flatulence and even abdominal cramps. In addition, steady weight loss will occur, as nutrients cannot be absorbed into the body.

The Pancreas and the Regulation of Blood Sugar
Apart from digestive enzymes, the pancreas also produces an important hormone , known as insulin . Insulin is manufactured in special groups of cells known as the Islets of Langerhans, which can be found throughout the pancreas, but are mainly located in the tail of the organ. The insulin is secreted directly into the bloodstream from these cells in the pancreas. The hormone is essential for the control of blood sugar levels.
Insulin opens the door, as it were, for sugar to enter all the cells of the body. Sugar is an important source of energy for our bodies. Every cell is dependent on sugar. After the sugar has been absorbed into the blood through the intestine, insulin enables the sugar to pass from the blood into the various cells of the body. If there is not enough insulin, or none at all, the sugar cannot enter the cells from the blood. As a result, the sugar level in the blood rises steadily, and this can have unpleasant or even life-threatening consequences for the patient. The disease where the pancreas fails to produce or produces insufficient insulin is known as diabetes mellitus. Diabetics suffer from varying degrees of insulin deficiency.
The production of pancreatic enzymes and the production of insulin are largely separate processes. If for any reason the pancreas is damaged, both functions, independent of each other, may be disrupted.