Pancreas Flashcards
(18 cards)
large gland in the back of your abdomen (belly).
Pancreas
Pancreas is a part of your__ and __.
Pancreas is a dual organ — like a factory with two production lines. It makes:
1.
2.
It’s part of yourdigestive systemand yourendocrine system.
It makes:
1. Enzymesto help with digestion (exocrine system).
2. Hormonesto control the amount of sugar in your bloodstream (endocrine system).
Pancreas makes about _ to _ liters (L) of enzyme-rich juice each day to help you digest the foods you eat.
1-4 Liters
Pancreas helps with digestion and releases hormones that regulate your __.
It also plays a role in supporting other organs like your …
Blood sugar
Heart, liver, kidney
When your blood sugar is too high, your pancreas makes __ to lower it.
When your blood sugar is too low, your pancreas makes __ to increase it.
Insulin
Glucagon
The head of your pancreas is on the __ side of your body.
It’s tucked beside the curve of your __ — that’s the very first part of your small intestine, where your food goes when it leaves your stomach.
The tail of your pancreas extends over to the __ side of your body, near your spleen.
Right
Duodenum
Left
___:The wider part of your pancreas that sits in the curve of your duodenum.
___:The short part of your pancreas extending from the head.
___:The middle part of your pancreas between the head and neck, which extends upward.
___:The thinnest part of your pancreas, located near your spleen.
Head
Neck
Body
Tail
What does Pancreas looks like?
Inches long:
Average weigh:
Tadpole
6 inches
91.8 grams (0.20 pounds)
occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce insulin.
occurs when your body makes insulin but doesn’t use it correctly.
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar):
happens when your body produces too much glucagon. This results in high blood sugar levels.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes
Hyperglycemia
It occurs when your body produces too much insulin. It causes low blood sugar levels.
It happens when enzymes start to work in the pancreas before they reach the duodenum. It may result fromgallstonesoralcohol use disorder. Can be temporary or long-lasting (chronic).
Cancerous cells in the pancreas causepancreatic cancer. It can be difficult to detect and treat.
Hypoglycemia
Pancreatitis
Pancreatic cancer
Symptoms of pancreas problems may include:
Abdominal pain.
Back pain.
Blurred vision.
Dark urine or light-colored, Extreme thirst orfrequent urination.
Nausea or vomiting.
Tingling in your hands or feet.
Unexplained weight loss.
Jaundice(yellowing of the eyes and skin).
Pancreas function tests
Abdominal ultrasoundorendoscopic ultrasound.
Angiography.
Blood tests.
CAT (computed tomography) scan.
ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)orMRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography).
Fecal elastase test
Magnetic resonance
test to determine if your pancreas makes enough digestive enzymes.
Fecal elastase test
to measure your pancreas’s ability to respond to secretin (a type of hormone).
Secretin pancreatic function test
Key Enzymes:
Breaks down fats.
Breaks down proteins.
Breaks down carbohydrates.
Lipase
Protease
Amylase
The endocrine part of the pancreas contains clusters of cells called pancreatic islets (or islets of Langerhans), which produce hormones.
Islets cell
This hormone is produced by beta cells and lowers blood sugar levels by helping the body use glucose for energy.
Insulin
Produced by alpha cells, glucagon raises blood sugar levels by signaling the liver to release stored glucose.
Other Hormones:
Glucagon
Somatostatin and other pancreatic hormones
