The pancreas is an abdominal organ located behind the stomach that secretes digestive enzymes and hormones. It has both exocrine functions that help break down food and endocrine functions of regulating blood sugar. The pancreas develops from endoderm in the duodenum that forms dorsal and ventral buds. These buds rotate and fuse to form the mature pancreas, with the dorsal duct opening at the minor papilla and ventral duct joining the common bile duct to open at the major papilla. The pancreas contains islands of endocrine cells that secrete hormones like insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar, as well as exocrine cells that secrete digestive enzymes into the small intestine.

1. Structure of Pancreas

2. What is Pancreas-
• Pancreas is an abdominal organ located behind the stomach and surrounded by
spleen, liver and small intestine. It is a vital part of the digestive system and is
responsible for regulating blood sugar levels.
• The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes such as amylase, proteases and lipase into
the duodenum. These enzymes help in digesting sugar, proteins and fat respectively.
Islets of Langerhans are embedded in the pancreas that secretes hormones such as
insulin and glucagon into the blood.

3. DEVELOPMENT –
• The pancreas develops in two parts, both of which
arise from the endoderm of the primitive
duodenum. The dorsal bud is the first to appear, as a
diverticulum from the dorsal wall of the duodenum.
This eventually forms the whole of the neck, body
and tail of the gland, together with part of the head.
• The ventral bud develops more caudally as a
diverticulum. Between the fourth and eighth week,
the ventral bud rotates posteriorly in a clockwise
fashion to fuse with the dorsal bud. The dorsal duct,
the duct of Santorini, opens into the duodenum
proximal to the major papilla (ampulla of Vater) at
the minor papilla, whereas the ventral duct, the duct
of Wirsung, which is joined with the lower common
bile duct, opens into the major papilla.

4. Pancreatic Tissue And Cell
Types.
Illustration of the major cell types and their
arrangement within the pancreatic tissue, as
either endocrine islets of Langerhans or
exocrine acini.
The islands of Langerhans primarily contain
alpha, beta, delta, epsilon and pancreatic
polypeptide endocrine cell types, as well as
vascular endothelial cells. The acini are
composed of exocrine acinar cells, as well as
centroacinar duct cells that are centrally located
within the acini and drain into the pancreatic
ducts.

5. Location -
• Epigastric & left hypochondriac regions
• Behind the stomach and lesser sac
• Transversely across the posterior abdominal wall at the level
of L1 - L3.
Size and Shape-
• Length-15-20 cm
• Thickness- 1.2-1.8 cm
• Breadth-2.5 -3.8 cm

6. The pancreas has three main sections:
•Head: area of pancreas to right of left border of superior mesenteric vein.
•Body: area of pancreas between left border of superior mesenteric vein and left border of
aorta.
•Tail: area of pancreas between left border of aorta and hilum of spleen.
The most common site of primaries is the head of the pancreas.
The pancreas has two functional components:
• Endocrine, to produce insulin and other hormones, and
• Exocrine, to produce pancreatic juices for digestion.
• The pancreas is in direct contact with the stomach, duodenum, spleen, and major vessels
of the abdomen.
Parts of Pancreas -

7. 1.Head of pancreas
2.Uncinate process
3.Pancreatic notch
4.Body of pancreas
5.Anterior surface
6.Inferior surface
7.Superior margin
8.Anterior margin
9.Inferior margin
10.Omental tuber
11.Tail of pancreas
12.Duodenum

8. Glucagon
• Several hours after a meal, the blood glucose levels in the body are
low. This signals the pancreas to secrete glucagon, which signals
the liver and muscle cells to convert the glycogen back to glucose,
which is then readily absorbed by the other cells to produce energy.
This loop continually functions, ensuring that the body’s glucose
levels never drop too low.
Hormones secreted by Pancreases
Insulin
• When the body digests food rich in carbohydrates, glucose is released
into the bloodstream. This leads to an increase in blood glucose levels in
the body. Consequently, the pancreas sends signals that direct all the
cells in the body to take in the glucose. Most of this glucose is used up
to provide energy to the cells. The excess glucose in the bloodstream is
converted into glycogen and absorbed by the liver and muscle cells to be
used later.

9. Somatostatin
• Somatostatin also called GHIH (growth hormone inhibiting
hormone) helps to regulate blood glucose and/or salt balance.
Pancreatic Polypeptide It is a polypeptide which is secreted by
the pancreatic cells. Protein is a powerful stimulus for its
development. The gastric and biliary secretion and motility of
the GI tract are affected by this polypeptide

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