The pancreas is a J-shaped organ located behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and hormones. It has an exocrine function through the production of enzymes that digest food and an endocrine function through clusters of cells called islets of Langerhans that secrete insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar levels. The pancreas receives its blood supply from several arteries including the splenic artery and superior mesenteric artery. Diseases of the pancreas include pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and conditions that can lead to cancer like chronic pancreatitis.

2. • The pancreas is a 12-15 cm long J shaped, soft, lobulated retroperitoneal organ.
• The pancreas is located behind the stomach in the upper left abdomen. It is
surrounded by other organs including the small intestine, liver, and spleen.
• The wide part, called the head of the pancreas, is positioned toward the center of
the abdomen. The head of the pancreas is located at the juncture where the
stomach meets the first part of the small intestine.
• The central section of the pancreas is called the neck or body.
• The thin end is called the tail and extends to the left side.

3. FUNCTION OF PANCREAS
• A healthy pancreas produces the correct
chemicals in the proper quantities, at the right
times, to digest the foods we eat.
• pancreas contains both exocrine and endocrine
cells
The exocrine acinar cells, forming most of the
• gland, secrete digestive enzymes into the small
intestine
• during digestion of food.

4. • The endocrine cells of the pancreas are contained in spherical
bodies called pancreatic islets or islets of Langerhans, about a
million of which are scattered among the exocrine acini.
• The main
• cell types in the islets are alpha and beta cells. Alpha (α) cells
• (A cells) secrete glucagon (gloo kah-gon), a protein hormone
• that signals liver cells to release glucose from their glycogen
• stores, thus raising blood sugar levels whenever they fall too
• low. Beta (β) cells (B cells) secrete insulin. a protein hormone that
signals most cells of the body to take up glucose from the blood
and promotes the storage of glucose as glycogen in the liver

5. • Most alpha cells lie at the periphery of
• the pancreatic islets, whereas the more abundant beta cells
• occupy the central part.
• The pancreatic islets also contain two rare cell types (not
• illustrated): Delta (D) cells secrete somatostatin (so mahto-
• stat in), a peptide hormone that inhibits the secretion
• of glucagon and insulin by the nearby alpha and beta cells;
• F (PP) cells secrete pancreatic polypeptide, a hormone that
• may inhibit the exocrine activity of the pancreas

6. BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE PANCREAS
• The main vascular supply of the pancreas is
governed by the splenic artery and its
subsequent branches, which stem from the
celiac trunk of the aorta at the level of the
twelfth thoracic vertebra. It also receives
blood from the superior mesenteric artery, the
gastroduodenal artery and also the superior
and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries.

7. • The pancreas receives its blood supply from a few
different sources: the head of the pancreas (the
portion which is within the duodenum's
concavity) is supplied by the superior mesenteric
artery and the superior pancreaticoduodenal
artery, both of which are located in the groove
between the duodenum and the pancreas. The
tail, body, and the neck of the pancreas receive
their blood supply from the splenic artery's
pancreatic branches. The largest of the pancreatic
branches is the arteria pancreatica magna.

9. Computed tomography (CT) scan showing the pancreas head (*) and the superior mesenteric
artery (black arrow) and vein (white arrow).

10. DISEASES OF PANCREAS
• PANCREATITIS:Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that
occurs when pancreatic enzyme secretions build up and begin to
digest the organ itself.
• PRECURSOR TO PANCREATIC CANCER:The exact cause of pancreatic
cancer is still unknown, but there are known risk factors that
increase the risk of developing the disease. Cigarette smoking, a
family history of pancreatic cancer or hereditary cancer syndromes,
and chronic pancreatitis are some of these factors.
• PANCREATIC CANCER:The most common form of pancreatic cancer
is pancreatic adenocarcinoma, an exocrine tumor arising from the
cells lining the pancreatic duct. A far less common form, endocrine
tumors, account for less than 5% of all pancreatic tumors and are
sometimes referred to as neuroendocrine or islet cell tumors.

11. REFERENCES
• http://www.healthline.com/human-body-
maps/pancreas
• http://columbiasurgery.org/pancreas/pancreas-and-its-
functions
• http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1948885-
overview#a2
• https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/blood-
supply-and-innervation-of-the-pancreas
• http://www.innerbody.com/anatomy/cardiovascular/lo
wer-torso/blood-supply-stomach-pancreas
• MARIEB HUMAN ANATOMY PAGE 528