The pancreas is a glandular organ of the body. There are pancreatic hormones secreted in the pancreas. The organ is divided into the head, body and a tail. It has both digestive exocrine and hormone-producing endocrine glands. The glands give your pancreas a loose and a lumpy structure that is unique.
The digestive exocrine cells are about 95% and the endocrine cells are only less than five percent. It is in the upper abdomen and is approximately six inches long, lies between the small bowel and stomach. As soon as the food is absorbed and broken down to body sugar. The pancreas releases digestive hormones to neutralize the nutrients level in blood.
The pancreas is tasked with two functions in your body. The first helps you in digestion and is called the Exocrine Process. The second helps to maintain and balance the body’s blood sugar (glucose). It is called the Endocrine Process. The pancreas is therefore said to have both an endocrine and exocrine functions in your body. To achieve the functions it has to carry out, the pancreas secretes hormones.
Hormones that are secreted by the pancreas help in the exocrine and endocrine functions of the pancreas. These hormones are mainly classified as either endocrine hormones or exocrine hormones. The hormones are released by the pancreas directly into the blood whenever the need arises.
The pancreas contains endocrine cells that are gathered in clusters popularly known as the Pancreatic Islets or Islets of Langerhans. These cells help in the secretion of primary pancreas gland hormones such as the vasoactive intestinal peptide, glucagon, Gastrin, Somatostatin, and the insulin hormones. The pancreas hormone functions include the following
The exocrine role of the pancreas is to purely help your body to digest food particles. The exocrine glands of the pancreas contain Acinar and Duct tissues. Whenever partially digested food particles that are known as Chyme enter the duodenum. The pancreas secretes a pancreatic juice to aid in the digestion. This pancreatic juice is a mixture of different enzymes, bicarbonates, various body salts, and water. The Secretin hormone helps in secreting the pancreatic juice.
Exocrine enzymes secreted by your pancreas help exocrine hormones in digesting specific compounds that are in Chyme. The enzymes that enable this include
The pancreas hormones functions are controlled by both the endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system. This helps the body to deal with various situations such as emergencies, stress or when exercising.
The main disorder of the pancreas is the diabetes condition. A failure in pancreas hormones function is referred to medically as pancreatitis. Symptoms of pancreatitis include bloating, back pain or loss of appetite. You could also be experiencing Jaundice and nausea. Diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic malfunction are best done in consultation with your healthcare provider.
Medically Reviewed By
Professionally, a trained Microbiologist and Plant operator, Eustace is an experienced health content writer who is passionate about helping people lead a healthy life.
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