The Pancreas Flashcards
why can the pancreas be described as a dual purpose gland
it has both hormonal and digestive functions
is the pancreas exocrine or endocrine in function
both
describe the endocrine portion of the pancreas
islets of langerhans
what are the islets of langerhans responsible for
secretion of hormones, insulin, glucagon and somatostatin
which portion of the pancreas is responsible for secretions passing to the bloodstream
endocrine
which makes up more of the pancreas; exocrine or endocrine
exocrine, at 99%
what does the exocrine portion of the pancreas contain
digestive enzymes and bicarbonate ions
what is insulin
the hormone responsible for promoting glucose absorption from the blood into the liver, skeletal muscle and fat cells, and enables conversion into its storage form, glycogen
what is glucagon
the hormone that converts stored glycogen into glucose for release into the blood stream when levels are low
what is somatostatin
the hormone that reduces acid secretion and helps to slow down the digestive process, although it has a variety of other functions in the body
what do the digestive enxzymes found in the exocrine portion of the pancreas do
they break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats
what is the pancreas acinus
cluster of cells found in the pancreas that produce digestive enzymes
what are the digestive enzymes produced in the exocrine pancreas
amylase
lipase
trypsin
chymotrypsin
nucleases
how is bicarbonate produced in the exocrine pancreas
comes from the ducts of the pancreas
what are the functions of the bicarbonate ions found in the exocrine pancreas
neutralising gastric acid so there is an optimum ph
what does amylase do
breaks down starch into sugars
what does lipase do
breaks down fats into monoglyceride and fatty acids
what is trypsin involved in
breakdown of fats into monoglyceride and fatty acids
how is trypsin secreted
in its inactive form, trypsinogen
what does trypsin do
breaks down or hydrlyses proteins
what does chymotrypsin arise from
inactive chymotryupsinogen
what does chymotrypsin do
breaks down proteins and polypeptides
what do nucleases break down
nucleotides
what are the regions of the pancreas
head
uncinate process
neck
body
tail
describe the head of the pancreas
this is the widest part of the pancreas and lies within the c shaped curve created by the duodenum
it is connected to the duodenum by connective tissue
which section of the pancreas is the widest
the head of the pancreas
which region of the pancreas is found within the c curvature of the duodenum
the head of the pancreas
how is the head of the pancreas attached to the duodenum
connective tissue