Pancreas Function in Human Body: Roles with Detailed Explanation

What Is The Function Of Pancreas In Human Body?

The pancreas is an exocrine gland located in the abdomen, having two roles: in the digestive system and as an endocrine organ. Knowing its functions is of principal interest for grasping how the body deals with digestion and maintains blood sugar levels within the organism.

Pancreatic Structure And Location

The pancreas is an elongated, thin gland behind the stomach and across the abdomen. It has two major regions:

Exocrine Function

The exocrine pancreas plays a significant role in the digestive process by producing and secreting pancreatic juice that contains the following digestive enzymes:

• Amylase: breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars.

• Proteases: including trypsin or chymotrypsin: break down proteins into peptides and amino acids.

• Lipases: Break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

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This Story also Contains

1. What Is The Function Of Pancreas In Human Body?
2. Pancreatic Structure And Location
3. Control Of Blood Sugar Level
4. Disorders Of The Pancreas
5. Diagnosis And Treatment Of Pancreatic Disorders

It is then secreted into the small intestine through the pancreatic duct and plays its role in the digestion and absorption of food.

Endocrine Function

The endocrine pancreas controls the levels of sugar in the blood by releasing hormones into the bloodstream via the islets of Langerhans:

Insulin:

This hormone, produced by beta cells of the pancreas, decreases blood glucose levels by increasing fluxes of glucose into cells for use in energy production or storage as glycogen.

Glucagon:

This hormone, produced by the alpha cells, has the opposite effect; that is, it increases blood sugar levels by stimulating the release of glucose in storage into general circulation from the liver.

Somatostatin:

This hormone is produced by delta cells and acts to modulate the relative secretion of insulin versus glucagon and to inhibit growth hormone secretion.

Control Of Blood Sugar Level

Insulin and glucagon are balanced in the pancreas to maintain blood glucose homeostasis. Following a meal, blood glucose levels rise. The pancreas then releases insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin promotes the uptake of glucose by cells, removing sugar from the blood. Once the blood glucose has dropped too low, the pancreas releases glucagon which stimulates the liver to manufacture and secrete more glucose into the blood, thus returning blood glucose levels to normal.

Disorders Of The Pancreas

Dysfunction of the pancreas can give rise to several disorders.

• Diabetes Mellitus: In this case, there is an absolute lack of insulin to be secreted, Type 1 Diabetes, or the body resists the action of insulin, Type 2 Diabetes, thus keeping blood sugar levels high over some time.

• Pancreatitis: This is a situation in which the organ, the pancreas, gets inflamed. It could be acute or chronic and results mostly from alcohol abuse and gallstones. This may impair both exocrine and endocrine functions.

• Pancreatic Cancer: It is a malignant growth in the pancreas capable of interfering with the ability of the pancreas to produce the required amount of hormones and digestive enzymes.

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Pancreatic Disorders

While in most cases diagnosis is based on blood tests and imaging studies like CT or MRI scans, some additional diagnosis is based on biopsy. The treatments of pancreatic disorders differ from one disorder to another. For example:

• Diabetes Mellitus: It is treated with medicines, either with insulin or oral hypoglycemics, and also by modifying the patient's lifestyle and monitoring blood sugar levels.

• Pancreatitis: It mostly needs admission to the hospital, pain control, and treatment of fundamental causes like gallstones or alcohol consumption.

• Pancreatic Cancer: Depending on the stage and site of cancer, treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination.