Pancreas Flashcards
Parts of the pancreas
Uncinate process, head, neck, body, tail
Functions of the pancreas
Exocrine - acinar cells secrete pancreatic enzymes
Endocrine - Islets of Langerhans secrete hormones into blood
Cells that make up the Islets of Langerhans and what these cells secrete
Beta cells (74%) - secrete insulin Alpha cells (19%) - secrete glucagon Delta cells (5%) - secrete somatostatin F cells (1%) - secrete pancreatic polypeptide
What are secretions of pancreatic fluid regulated by?
Vagus nerve and gastrin levels
Secretions from acinar cells
Protease, pancreatic lipase, pancreatic amylase, other enzymes e.g. nuclease, deoxyribonuclease, gelatinase and elastase
What does protease do?
Converts polypeptides to peptides
What does pancreatic lipase do?
Converts triglycerides into fatty acids and monoglycerides
What does pancreatic amylase do?
Turns carbohydrates into dissacharides/monosaccharides
What do the epithelial cells lining the ducts secrete?
Bicarbonate and water
Pancreatitis
Acute inflammatory process in the pancreas which involves regional tissues and remote organs
Aetiology of pancreatitis - I GET SMASHED
I = idiopathic G = gallstones E = ethanol T = traums S = steroids M = mumps A = autoimmune S = scorpion bite H = hypercalcaemia, hyperparathyroidism, hyperlopidaeia E = ERCP D = drugs
Clinical presentation of acute pancreatitis
Acute onset epigastric pain radiating to the back, very severe - patient doubling over. Nausea and vomiting, jaundice
Examination findings of acute pancreatitis
Diffuse upper abdominal tenderness, soft abdomen, fullness in epigastrium, normal bowel sounds, erythema ab igne, Cullen’s sign, Grey turner’s sign
Erythema ab igne
Hot water bottle rash. Caused by long-term exposure to heat
Cullen’s sign
Superficial oedema and bruising in subcutaneous fatty tissue around umbilicus
Grey turner’s sign
Bruising of the flanks
Investigations for pancreatitis
Blood tests - FBC and coagulation, U&Es, LFTs, calcium, glucose, amylase/lipase, CRP lactate
Arterial blood gas
CXR, AXR, ultrasound, CT
Diagnostic level of serum amylase in pancreatitis
3x upper limit of normal
What may a CXR show in pancreatitis?
Pleural effusion