Pancreas
From Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia written in simple English for easy reading.
The pancreas is an organ that releases hormones and enzymes to help digestion.
It releases substances through special cells called the Islets of Langerhans.
Amazingly, the pancreas is the only organ in the human body to belong to two systems of function (the digestive system due to its role in breaking down nutrients and the endocrine system for its role in hormone production).
[edit] Hormones
The pancreas releases these hormones:
- Insulin (which regulates the breaking down of carbohydrate)
- Glucagon (which increases the glucose or sugar in the blood)
- Somatostatin (which reduces production of insulin and glucagon)
[edit] Digestive enzymes
The pancreas releases many different enzymes to help digestion:
- Lipase (which breaks down fats)
- Amylase (which breaks down carbohydrates)
- Trypsinogen and Chymotrypsin (which break down proteins)
| Gastrointestinal system |
| Mouth • Tongue • Salivary gland • Pharynx • Esophagus • Stomach • Pancreas • Gallbladder • Liver • Intestines: Small intestine (Duodenum • Jejunum • Ileum) • Large intestine (Cecum • Colon • Rectum) Anus |
