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Science & Tech
pancreas
anatomy
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Science & Tech
- Related Topics:
- islets of Langerhans
- duct of Wirsung
- pancreatic duct
- alpha cell
- Vater’s ampulla
- On the Web:
- Pressbooks - Boundless Anatomy and Physiology - The Pancreas (Mar. 07, 2024)
pancreas, compound gland that discharges digestive enzymes into the gut and secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon, vital in carbohydrate (sugar) metabolism, into the bloodstream. In humans the pancreas weighs approximately 80 grams (about 3 ounces) and is shaped like a pear. It is located in the upper abdomen, with the head lying immediately adjacent to the duodenum (the upper portion of the small intestine) and the body and tail extending across the midline nearly to the spleen. In adults, most of the pancreatic tissue is devoted to exocrine function, in which digestive enzymes are secreted via the pancreatic ducts ...(100 of 1376 words)