What is the pancreas and what function does it have?

He pancreas It has a key role in digestion and metabolism. Contains glands that release substances to help with digestion and control blood sugar.

Problems in the pancreas can lead to diabetes, pancreatitis, and other health problems. In addition, it depends on its proper functioning that we have a good digestion and correctly absorb the nutrients.

What is the pancreas?

The pancreas is a glandular organ essential part of the digestive and endocrine systems that has a key role in the transforming the food we eat into fuel for our cells.

It measures about 15 to 20 centimeters, is shaped like a flattened pear, and is located in the abdominal cavity, behind the stomach.

It is a fluffy and almost the 95% is composed of exocrine tissue, which produces pancreatic enzymes for digestion. He Remaining 5% consists of endocrine cells called islets of Langerhans, cells that produce hormones that regulate blood sugar levels.

He pancreas consists of different parts and tissues that fulfill specific functions and work together to carry out their functions: the head (the widest end, located on the right side of the abdomen), the body (the middle part), the line (the narrower end), the main pancreatic duct or duct of Wirsung (a tube that passes through the pancreas and carries digestive enzymes to the duodenum), islets of langerhans (some cells distributed throughout the pancreas that produce hormones such as insulin or glucagon, among others) and acini (groups of cells that produce digestive enzymes).

what function does the pancreas have?

The pancreas has two main functions: the exocrine, which helps digestion, and the endocrine, which regulates blood sugar:

exocrine function: As we have mentioned, most of the pancreas is made up of tissue that produces digestive enzymes (exocrine). These enzymes are responsible for break down nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats) in the small intestine, which helps in the digestion of food. Pancreatic enzymes include amylase, lipase, and protease, which break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, respectively.endocrine function: the islets of Langerhans produce and release hormones directly into the bloodstream to regulate blood sugar levels. The two main hormones produced by the islets are insulin (helps regulate glucose metabolism in the body) and the glucagon (which stimulates the liver to release stored glucose into the bloodstream, raising blood sugar levels). The balance between insulin and glucagon is essential to keep blood sugar levels stable.

In addition to insulin and glucagon, the pancreas produces other hormones involved in various functions of the body, like somatostatin (which inhibits the release of other hormones in the body and regulates their levels and activity) or the pancreatic polypeptide (involved in the regulation of pancreatic secretions, gastrointestinal motility and appetite). also secret bicarbonate ions in the small intestine, which help neutralize acidic contents from the stomach and promote an optimal environment for digestive enzymes to work effectively.

Where is the pancreas?

The pancreas, a flat pear-shaped gland measuring about 15 centimeters in length and 5 centimeters in width, is located in the abdomensurrounded by the stomach, small intestine, liver, spleen, and gallbladder.

the head of the pancreas It is to the right of the abdomen, just behind where the stomach and the first part of the small intestine join. The body of the pancreas is positioned behind the stomach and its tail is located next to the spleen, to the left of the abdomen.

iStock

What if the pancreas doesn’t work right?

When the pancreas does not work properly and cannot perform its functions properly, health problems may appear such as:

Diabeteswhich happens when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body becomes resistant to it, and as a result, it can lead to high blood sugar and other symptoms.pancreatitisa inflammation of the pancreas which can be acute or chronic. Its symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and digestive problems.Pancreatic cancer, a type of cancer that develops in the cells of the pancreas and is usually aggressive. It is often diagnosed in late stages, making it difficult to treat.

Cystic fibrosisa genetic disorder that affects several organs, including the pancreas, and is characterized by the production of thick mucus that can block the pancreatic ductspreventing digestive enzymes from reaching the small intestine.pancreatic insufficiencywhich happens when the pancreas does not produce enough digestive enzymes, which can lead to nutrient malabsorption and symptoms such as weight loss, oily stools, nutrient deficiencies, and digestive problems. It can be a consequence of diseases such as chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis or pancreatic cancer.