5.2 pancreas & glucose regulation Flashcards
what type of gland is the pancreas?
endocrine and exocrine
how is the pancreas an exocrine gland?
releases enzymes via duct into duodenum
how is the pancreas an endocrine gland?
produces hormones and releases them into the blood
what is the exocrine glandular tissue responsible for?
producing digestive enzymes and pancreatic juice (alkaline fluid)
the enzymes and juice secreted into ducts eventually leading to what?
the pancreatic duct
the enzymes and juice are released from the duct into what?
the duodenum
what is the duodenum?
the top part of the small intestine
what are the 3 types of important digestive enzymes the pancreas produces?
amylase
protease
lipase
what do amylases produced by the pancreas do?
break down starch into simple sugars
what do proteases produced by the pancreas do?
break down proteins into amino acids e.g. trypsin
what do lipases produced by the pancreas do?
break down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol e.g. pancreatic glycerol
what hormones is the pancreas responsible for producing?
insulin and glucagon
what do insulin and glucagon play an important role in?
controlling blood glucose concentration
within exocrine tissue there are small regions of exocrine tissue called what?
islets of langerhans
what are the two cell types in the islets of Langerhans?
alpha cells
beta cells
what do alpha cells secrete?
glucagon
what do beta cells secrete?
insulin
what are secretory acini?
exocrine glands surrounding the islets of langerhan that secrete digestive enzymes
what does the body use glucose for?
to make ATP
to remain healthy what constant level of blood glucose must your body maintain?
90mg cm-3
if glucose wasn’t kept constant what would happen to levels?
too high after meals
low several hours later
leaving not enough glucose for respiration
through what process does the body keep levels constant?
homeostasis
what are the 3 ways you can increase blood glucose?
diet
glycogenolysis
gluconeogenesis
how can you increase blood glucose concentration through your diet?
eating foods rich in carbohydrates e.g. pasta
carbs broken down to glucose
which is absorbed into bloodstream