pancreas Flashcards
function of the pancreas?
exocrine and endocrine function
which part of the pancreas produce endocrine secretions?
islets of langerhans
what endocrine secretions are produced by the pancreas?
hormones - insulin, glucagon, somatostatin
which exocrine secretions does the pancreas produce?
digestive enzymes and bicarbonate ions
which enzymes does the pancreas secrete and what are the functions of the enzymes?
amylase (breakdown starch)
lipase (breakdown fat)
trypsin (breakdown protein to amino acids)
nucleases ( breakdown nucleic acids)
what is the function of bicarbonate secretion by the pancreas?
neutralise gastric acid
at which part of the duodenum do the common bile duct and pancreatic duct open into?
major duodenal papilla
what do islets of langerhans present as on a histological structure of the pancreas?
pale small circles
name the 3 islet of langerhans cells and state their secretions
alpha - glucagon
beta - insulin
delta - somatostatin
rate the 3 islets of langerhans cells in order of most common
beta (80%), alpha (15%) and delta (5%)
which type of epithelium does the pancreas contain?
simple columnar
which cells make up the majority of exocrine tissue in the pancreas?
acinar cells
what do acinar cells look like on a histological structure of the pancreas?
dark clusters
how are ducts in the pancreas formed?
collection of acinar cells
how to acinar cells assist digestion?
they produce and transport enzymes that are passed into the duodenum to assist digestion
