Pancreas Flashcards
About 20% of the pancreatic endocrine cells are the alpha cells which produce glucagon.
What effect on plasma glucose of a glucagon-secreting alpha cell tumour would you find?
Alpha cells secrets glucagon which increases glucose concentrations in the plasma, therefore, if have a alpha tumour, going to be secreting more glucagon, therefore, more glucose!
Name the other hormones produced by the pancreas apart from from glucagon and give their function?
Endocrine: Insulin (lowers blood glucose) and Somatostatin (growth hormone inhibiting hormone)
Exocrine: digestive enzymes?
How does the venous drainage of the pancreas differ from that of the kidneys or gonads?
The venous blood enters the portal system after. Runs through the portal vein into the liver.
