Pancreas Flashcards
location of pancreas
- lies posterior to the stomach
- bound to the posterior walls of the abdominal cavity
the pancreas is wrapped in
thin connective tissue capsule
pancreas cells
endocrine cells and exocrine cells
endocrine cells of the pancreas islets
secrete insulin and glucagon into bloodstream
exocrine cells
acinar cells and epithelial cells of duct system secrete pancreatic juice
pancreatic enzymes
pancreatic alpha-amylase, pancreatic lipase, nucleases, proteolytic enzymes
pancreatic alpha-amylase
carbohydrate that breaks down starches and is similar to the salivary amylase
pancreatic lipase
breaks down complex lipids and releases products like fatty acids that are easily absorbed
nucleases
breaks down nucleic acids
proteolytic enzymes
-break down certain proteins apart:
- proteases
- peptidases
- 70% of all pancreatic enzyme production
- secreted as inactive proenzyme
- activated after reaching the small intestine
proteases
break large protein complexes
peptidases
break small peptides into amino acids