Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionAssociated ConditionsTests
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy
Function
Associated Conditions
Tests
The pancreas is a gland located deep inside the abdomen, just behind the lower part of the stomach. It has two important functions: secreting enzymes that aid in digestion and releasing hormones, in particular insulin, to help regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood).
magicmine / Getty Images
The pancreas is an elongated gland located deep within the abdomen, tucked in between the stomach and the spine. One end of the pancreas is wider than the other and is called the head: It sits within the curve of the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) and is divided into two parts: the head proper and the uncinate process.
Much like a comma lying on its side, the pancreas extends slightly upward, becoming narrower and narrower. It is divided into areas referred to as the neck, the body, and, finally, the tail, which is located near the spleen.
The pancreas is roughly the length of the hand—about six inches long.
Two types of gland comprise the pancreas, each with very different but vital functions. Theexocrine gland, which runs the entire length of the pancreas, secretes digestive enzymes.
Theendocrineportion of the pancreas is made up of groups of cells call the islets of Langerhans. There are three types of cells in the islets, each of which secretes different hormones that help to regulate the amount of sugar in the bloodstream.
The pancreas.
The pancreas plays key roles in two important functions in the body—digestion and blood sugar control. These functions are performed independently.
Digestion
The pancreas produces approximately 8 ounces of enzyme-filled digestive juices each day.
Blood Sugar Control
Specific cells in the islets of Langerhans secret three different hormones responsible for controlling the levels of sugar in the blood.
Perforation
Disorders in pancreatic structure can lead to holes in the organ, in which case digestive enzymes leak into the abdominal cavity. In turn, this can damage the pancreas, itself, as well as other organs in the area. Treatment often entails surgically removing the pancreas, which is effective but means the patient will have to take supplemental enzymes and blood glucose regulators for the rest of their life.
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic canceris particularly dangerous because it is usually only caught in a very late stage. Risk factors for this condition include smoking, obesity, diabetes, as well as the presence of colon cancer. As with other types of cancer, treatments can include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, as well as targeted work.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetesis an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks cells involved in the production of insulin. It is the most common type of childhood diabetes, with a peak of incidence around puberty, although it can arise in adults as well.It leads to dangerous blood sugar levels. As such, those with it require insulin injections to survive.
Artificial Pancreas: What to Know
Type 2 diabetes
The more common form of this disease,type 2 diabetesleads to excessively elevated blood sugar levels due to insulin resistance and an impaired ability of the pancreas to secrete this hormone. Treatment for this condition ranges from ensuring changes in diet and lifestyle to taking one of a class of drugs called biguanides.
Pancreatitis
As a result, patients feel constant pain in the upper abdomen that radiates to other parts of the body. In about 15% of acute cases, this leads to low blood pressure, dehydration, as well as kidney or heart failure.While milder cases can resolve on their own, treatment involves everything from taking antibiotics to surgery.
Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed with blood tests that measure the amount of glucose in the blood. Blood glucose is sometimes used in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Diagnosing other diseases and conditions involving the pancreas is done with any of a variety of lab and imaging tests.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dimitriou I, Katsourakis A, Nikolaidou E, Noussios G.The main anatomical variations of the pancreatic duct system: Review of the literature and its importance in surgical practice.J Clin Med Res. 2018;10(5):370-375. doi:10.14740/jocmr3344wTalathi S, Young M.Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, pancreas.Maahs DM, West NA, Lawrence JM, Mayer-Davis EJ.Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes.Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2010;39(3):481–497. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2010.05.011Aggarwal A, Manrai M, Kochhar R.Fluid resuscitation in acute pancreatitis.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(48):18092–18103. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i48.18092Rad A.Pancreas. Kenhub.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dimitriou I, Katsourakis A, Nikolaidou E, Noussios G.The main anatomical variations of the pancreatic duct system: Review of the literature and its importance in surgical practice.J Clin Med Res. 2018;10(5):370-375. doi:10.14740/jocmr3344wTalathi S, Young M.Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, pancreas.Maahs DM, West NA, Lawrence JM, Mayer-Davis EJ.Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes.Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2010;39(3):481–497. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2010.05.011Aggarwal A, Manrai M, Kochhar R.Fluid resuscitation in acute pancreatitis.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(48):18092–18103. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i48.18092Rad A.Pancreas. Kenhub.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Dimitriou I, Katsourakis A, Nikolaidou E, Noussios G.The main anatomical variations of the pancreatic duct system: Review of the literature and its importance in surgical practice.J Clin Med Res. 2018;10(5):370-375. doi:10.14740/jocmr3344wTalathi S, Young M.Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, pancreas.Maahs DM, West NA, Lawrence JM, Mayer-Davis EJ.Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes.Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2010;39(3):481–497. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2010.05.011Aggarwal A, Manrai M, Kochhar R.Fluid resuscitation in acute pancreatitis.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(48):18092–18103. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i48.18092Rad A.Pancreas. Kenhub.
Dimitriou I, Katsourakis A, Nikolaidou E, Noussios G.The main anatomical variations of the pancreatic duct system: Review of the literature and its importance in surgical practice.J Clin Med Res. 2018;10(5):370-375. doi:10.14740/jocmr3344w
Talathi S, Young M.Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, pancreas.
Maahs DM, West NA, Lawrence JM, Mayer-Davis EJ.Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes.Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2010;39(3):481–497. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2010.05.011
Aggarwal A, Manrai M, Kochhar R.Fluid resuscitation in acute pancreatitis.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(48):18092–18103. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i48.18092
Rad A.Pancreas. Kenhub.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
