Pancreas

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Pancreas


1: Head of pancreas 2: Uncinate process of pancreas 3: Pancreatic notch 4: Body of pancreas 5: Anterior surface of pancreas 6: Inferior surface of pancreas 7: Superior margin of pancreas 8: Anterior margin of pancreas 9: Inferior margin of pancreas 10: Omental tuber 11: Tail of pancreas 12: Duodenum
Gray's	subject #251 1199
MeSH	A03.734
Dorlands/Elsevier	p_02/12608639

The pancreas is an organ in which the male sticks his huge cock in the pussy of the female which leads to the pancreas, and after 9 months out pops a baby:

exocrine - producing pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes.
endocrine - producing several important hormones, including insulin.

1 Anatomy
2 Function
- 2.1 Exocrine
- 2.2 Endocrine
3 Edibility
4 Diseases of the pancreas
5 History
6 See also
7 Additional images
8 References

[edit] Anatomy

The pancreas is located posterior to the stomach and in close association with the duodenum.

In humans, the pancreas is a 15-25 cm (6-10 inch) elongated organ in the abdomen located retroperitoneal. It is often described as having three regions: a head, body and tail. The pancreatic head abuts the second part of the duodenum while the tail extends towards the spleen. The pancreatic duct runs the length of the pancreas and empties into the second part of the duodenum at the ampulla of Vater. The common bile duct commonly joins the pancreatic duct at or near this point.

The pancreas is supplied arterially by the pancreaticoduodenal arteries, themselves branches of the superior mesenteric artery or of the hepatic artery (branch of celiac trunk from the abdominal aorta). The superior mesenteric artery provides the inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries while the gastroduodenal artery (one of the terminal branches of the hepatic artery) provides the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery.

Venous drainage is via the pancreaticoduodenal veins which end up in the portal vein. The splenic vein passes posterior to the pancreas but is said to not drain the pancreas itself. The portal vein is formed by the union of the superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein posterior to the body of the pancreas. In some people (some books say 40% of people), the inferior mesenteric vein also joins with the splenic vein behind the pancreas (in others it simply joins with the superior mesenteric vein instead).

The duodenum and pancreas (stomach removed).

[edit] Function

The pancreas produces enzymes that flow and break down all categories of digestible foods (exocrine pancreas) and secretes hormones that regulate blood glucose levels (endocrine pancreas).

[edit] Exocrine

The pancreas is composed of pancreatic exocrine cells, whose ducts are arranged in clusters called acini (singular acinus). The cells are filled with secretory granules containing the precursor digestive enzymes (mainly trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, pancreatic lipase, and amylase) that are secreted into the lumen of the acinus. These granules are termed zymogen granules (zymogen referring to the inactive precursor enzymes). It is important to synthesize inactive enzymes in the pancreas to avoid autodegradation, which can lead to pancreatitis.

The pancreas is near the liver, and is the main source of enzymes for digesting fats (lipids) and proteins - the intestinal walls have enzymes that will digest polysaccharides. Pancreatic secretions from ductal cells contain bicarbonate ions and are alkaline in order to neutralize the acidic chyme that the stomach churns out. Control of the exocrine function of the pancreas are via the hormones gastrin, cholecystokinin and secretin, which are hormones secreted by cells in the stomach and duodenum, in response to distension and/or food and which cause secretion of pancreatic juices.

The two major proteases which the pancreas secretes are trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen. These zymogens are inactivated forms of trypsin and chymotrypsin. Once released in the intestine, the enzyme enterokinase present in the intestinal mucosa activates trypsinogen by cleaving it to form trypsin. The free trypsin then cleaves the rest of the trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen to their active forms.

Pancreatic secretions accumulate in intralobular ducts that drain to the main pancreatic duct, which drains directly into the duodenum.

Due to the importance of its enzyme contents, injuring the pancreas is a very dangerous situation. A puncture of the pancreas tends to require careful medical intervention.

[edit] Endocrine

Scattered amongst the acini are the endocrine cells of the pancreas, in groups called the islets of Langerhans. They are:

Insulin-producing beta cells (50-80% of the islet cells)
Glucagon-releasing alpha cells (15-20%)
Somatostatin-producing delta cells (3-10%)
Pancreatic polypeptide-containing PP cells (

The islets are a compact collection of endocrine cells arranged in clusters and cords and are crisscrossed by a dense network of capillaries. The capillaries of the islets are lined by layers of endocrine cells in direct contact with vessels, and most endocrine cells are in direct contact with blood vessels, by either cytoplasmic processes or by direct apposition.

[edit] Edibility

Pancreas comes from the Greek pankreas (a combination of pan and kreas) which means 'all meat'. Kreas in Homeric literature meant edible animal flesh. An example of one such food that can be made from the pancreas of a calf, lamb or pig is sweetbread.

[edit] Diseases of the pancreas

Benign tumours
Carcinoma of pancreas (pancreatic cancer)
Cystic fibrosis
Diabetes
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
Hemosuccus pancreaticus, or bleeding from or through the pancreatic duct
Pancreatitis
- Acute pancreatitis
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Hereditary pancreatitis
Pancreatic pseudocyst

[edit] History

The pancreas was discovered by Herophilus (335-280 BC), a Greek anatomist and surgeon. Only a few hundred years later, Ruphos, another Greek anatomist, gave the pancreas its name.

[edit] See also

Artificial pancreas - a device currently under development that may be useful in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1
Pancreas transplantation

[edit] Additional images

The celiac artery and its branches; the stomach has been raised and the peritoneum removed.	Lymphatics of stomach, etc. The stomach has been turned upward.	Transverse section through the middle of the first lumbar vertebra, showing the relations of the pancreas.	The pancreatic duct.
Pancreas of a human embryo of five weeks.	Pancreas of a human embryo at end of sixth week.	Front of abdomen, showing surface markings for duodenum, pancreas, and kidneys.