Pancreas Flashcards
What type of gland is the pancreas?
It is both an exocrine and an endocrine gland
What is the exocrine function of the pancreas?
Pancreas cells produce enzymes such as amylase which flow to the duodenum through ducts
What is the endocrine function of the pancreas?
About one million groups of cells called islets of Langerhans produce insulin which is carried away by the bloodstream
Why is insulin considered a vital hormone?
3 points
It is the only hormone that reduces blood glucose levels
It causes cells, especially muscle and fat cells, to absorb glucose from the blood
The absorbed glucose is either used in respiration or converted to glycogen which is stored in the liver and muscles
What groups of cells produce insulin?
Islets of Langerhans
What is produced by Islets of Langerhans in the pnacreas?
Insulin
Where is Glycogen stored?
Liver and muscles
What is absorbed glucose used in?
Respiration or is converted into glycogen
What is the function of insulin?
It reduces blood sugar levels
How does insulin reduce blood sugar levels?
It causes cells, especially muscle and fat cells, to absorb glucose from the blood
What happens to the sugar that is absorbed by cells because of insulin?
The absorbed glucose is either used in respiration or converted to glycogen which is stored in the liver and muscles
Where is glycogen stored?
2
Liver
Muscles
Approximately how many Islets of Langerhans are there?
About one million groups
