The Pancreas by esi & luke.

An Introduction to the Pancreas  Location → The pancreas is located deep within the abdomen of the body, beneath the liver.

An Introduction the Pancreas (continued)  The Pancreas is roughly the size of a banana which has been stepped on or flattened.  It is made up of two different types of tissues: → islets of Langerhans → darker surrounding tissues  Because the pancreas secretes both digestive enzymes & several important hormones, it is at once an exocrine gland and an endocrine gland.

Exocrine Portion → The exocrine portion of the pancreas is made up of the darker tissue that surrounds the islets of Langerhans → Its main function is to secrete enzymes to break down food

Endocrine Portion → The endocrine portion of the pancreas is made up of the islets of Langerhans. → There are four types of cells within the islets, and they are responsible for secreting the following hormones:  Insulin & amylin, which lower blood sugar  Glucagon, which raises blood sugar  Somatostatin, which inhibits the endocrine pancreatic portion  Pancreatic polypeptide, which inhibits the exocrine pancreatic portion

Diseases Associated with the Pancreas  Diabetes mellitus  Benign tumours  Cystic fibrosis  Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency  Hemosuccus pancreaticus  Pancreatitis  Pancreatic pseudocyst

Diseases Associated with the Pancreas (continued)  Diabetes Mellitus → diabetes is a disease which is related to the body’s inability to produce a sufficient amount of insulin, or it’s inability to utilize it. → There are three types of this disease, type one diabetes, type two diabetes, and gestational diabetes.  type one diabetes usually affects children, adolescents, & young adults  In type one diabetes, one’s body does not produce a sufficient amount of insulin.  Type two diabetes usually affects overweight adults, though it has been diagnosed in young adults, and in rare cases, children.  In type two diabetes, one’s body produces insulin, but cannot utilize it.  Gestational diabetes occurs in 2%-4% of pregnant women, but normally disappears after the baby is born.  In gestational diabetes, a woman undergoes a period of glucose intolerance. → we have a song to help you to better understand diabetes.

Interesting… Have you ever had sweetbread? Sweetbread is the pancreas of a lamb or goat.

Bibliography     diabete/english/whatis/index.html diabete/english/whatis/index.html  Nelson Biology Twelve