Liver and Pancreas Flashcards
What are the two functions of the pancreas?
digestive (exocrine)
hormonal (endocrine)
What gland type forms the bulk of the pancreas?
exocrine (99%)
What are the clusters of endocrine cells called?
islets of langerhans
What are the endocrine cells in the pancreas and what is their hormone?
Alpha cells (glucagon)
Beta cells (insulin)
Delta cells (somastatin)
What is the difference between insulin and glucagon?
Insulin promotes the uptake of glucose by most cells, particularly those of the liver, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, thus lowering plasma glucose concentration.
Glucagon acts to increase the levels of glucose and fatty acids in the blood. It also causes the liver to break down and convert glycogen into glucose in a process called glycogenolysis.
What pH is the pancreas?
the pancreas is alkaline due to the bicarbonate ions
What is the role of somatostatin?
this helps to reduce acid secretion and helps to slow down the digestive process, although it has a variety of other functions in the body.
What do centroacinar ducts secrete?
bicarbonate and mucin
What are the secretions of the exocrine gland in the pancreas?
Enzymes -amylase, lipase, trysin, chymotrypsin, nucleases
Bicarbonate
What is the role of bicarbonate?
neutralises gastric acid
What is the role of pancreatic enzymes?
breakdown proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids by the process of luminal digestion
What are the 5 parts of the pancreas?
Head
Uncinate process
Neck
Body
Tail
What hormone promotes the secretion of bicarbonate in pancreas?
secretin
What hormone promotes the secretion enzyme rich fluid in pancreas?
CCK
What is the only part of the pancreas that is intraperitoneal?
tail
How does cystic fibrosis affect the pancreas?
the thick secretions block tubes that transport enzymes, the enzymes build up in the pancreas causing inflammation
What causes steatorrhoea (fatty stool)?
no breakdown of lipids as digestive enzyme are not secreted
Where does pancreatic cancer typically affect?
the head
Why does jaundice occur in pancreatic cancer?
It is a build-up of bilirubin which is not excreted, due to common bile ducts being blocked by tumour