Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A computer generated image of a pancreas.
The pancreas is an organ in the Digestive System and an endocrine gland.
The Pancreas and Digestion
- The pancreas produces digestive enzymes including pancreatic amylase, trypsin (which is a type of protease and lipase.
- The digestive enzymes are passed down the pancreatic duct which joins with the bile duct before arriving in the Small Intestine.
The Pancreas as an Endocrine Gland
- The pancreas secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon to regulate blood glucose levels.
- The liver is a target organ for the hormone glucagon.
- In Diabetes Type 1 the pancreas is damaged and cannot produce insulin to regulate blood glucose levels.
- In Diabetes Type 2 the pancreas may be overworked having to produce much more insulin than it would in a healthy animal.