2. What is the Pancreas?
It was discovered in approximately 280 BC by a Greek Surgeon and
Anatomist. The term Pancreas is derived from Greek meaning “All”,
“Whole” and “Flesh”. It is assumed it is called that because of its
fleshy consistency.
The pancreas is an organ gland that can be found in the digestive
system and endocrine system of Vertebrates(Animals with
backbones and spinal columns).
It is both a digestive organ as well as dual function endocrine
gland that is vital to breaking down food and producing several
hormones.
3. What does the Pancreas
do?
The Pancreas is vital to our daily food intake and making foods able
to be broken down by our bodies.
The Endocrine portion of the Pancreas is responsible for the task
of producing and maintaining many levels of hormones such as
insulin, pancreatic polypeptides, and glucagon.
The Digestive part of the Pancreas is critical to the secretion of
pancreatic juices in which contains digestive enzymes. These
digestive enzymes assist in the absorption of nutrients as well as
the digestion in the small intestine. The enzymes themselves help
break down our daily lipids, carbohydrates, chyme, and proteins.
4. What does the Pancreas
look like? 1. Head of the Pancreas
2. Uncinate Process of Pancreas
3. Pancreatic Notch
4. Body of Pancreas
5. Anterior Surface of Pancreas
6. Inferior Surface of Pancreas
7. Superior Margin of Pancreas
8. Anterior Margin of Pancreas
9. Inferior Margin of Pancreas
10. Omental Tuber
11. Tail of Pancreas
12. Duodenum
5. The Pancreas’
Job
As you can see, the Pancreas can go
one of two ways in which it works.
It can release Insulin to offset an
instance of high blood glucose
(hyperglycemia)
In the case of low blood glucose
(hypoglycemia), it will release
glucagon to compensate for the low
sugar levels.
6. Diseases of the
Pancreas
The Pancreas is a major storage depot for the digestive enzymes of
the human body. Because of this, injury to the Pancreas could
potentially be very dangerous, or even fatal.
A puncture, or trauma, to the Pancreas typically results in
immediate and experienced medical intervention.
Diabetes Mellitus Type 1, or T1DM (Type 1 Diabetes, Juvenile
Diabetes, Insulin Dependent) is a chronic autoimmune disease in
which the immune system attacks the insulin secreting cells of the
pancreas. There MAY be some correlations between diabetes,
chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
7. Diseases of the
Pancreas
Pancreatic Cancer
Particularly a cancer of the exocrine pancreas. Pancreatic Cancer remains
one of the most deadly cancers known to man.
It has a very high mortality rate, with 1 year survival rate around 25%
and 5 year survival less than an astonishing 5% for all stages combined.
Untreated Metastatic Pancreatic cancer leads to a median survival of 3-5
months, with complete remission being very rare.
In 2010, according to the American Cancer Society, 43,000 people were
diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, of which 37,000 died from the disease.
Because of its deep location, tumors are rarely palpable. It also explains
why many symptoms of cancer go unnoticed until it is large enough to
interfere with the function of nearby organs such as the stomach, liver,
or gallbladder.
8. Diseases of the
Pancreas
The final disease of the pancreas I will cover is a more
common, and very painful, Pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the Pancreas (-itis
meaning inflammation)
A variety of factors can cause high pressure in the
Pancreatic Ducts. Pancreatic Duct rupture, and juice
leakage causes pancreatic self digestion. This is when
Pancreatitis occurs.
Gallstones and Alcohol are two of the most common causes
of pancreatitis
9. Where is the Pancreas
located?
The Pancreas is located deep within the abdomen. It is sandwiched between the stomach
and spine.
To visualize the position of the pancreas, try this- Touch the thumb and pinkie finger of
your right hand together, keeping the other three fingers together and straight. Then,
place your hand in the center of your belly just below your lower ribs with your fingers
pointing to the left. Your hand will be at the approximate level of your Pancreas.
10. The “Hermit of the
Abdomen”
If you would like to know more about this organ/gland, feel free to
check out pancreas.org, pancan.org, as well as The American Cancer
Society’s site: cancer.org.
Thank you very much for reviewing this information, and I hope
you enjoyed learning this new and exciting information as much as
I did. I hope you all take a little bit of information to your own
lives!
Christopher Kenney
9/4/12
