Pancreas Function

The pancreas is placed deep in the abdomen and is surrounded by stomach, duodenum, liver, spleen and gallbladder. People don't know much about pancreas as compared to liver or other parts of the body. Pancreas is often neglected until problems occur. It lies behind the stomach and is encircled by the duodenum (small intestine). Every year, more and more people are being diagnosed with pancreas problems. During physical examination, the doctor may press on the abdomen, but it will be difficult to trace pancreatic tumor because of its location (near to your back). When the tumors affect the surrounding organs, then only other tests are performed and the tumors are detected.

Pancreas Structure and Function

Pancreas consists of glandular tissue and a system of ducts. The main pancreatic duct is responsible for carrying the pancreatic fluid to the duodenum. This main duct has many small branches and it joins the bile duct at the end. The endocrine (endo = within) and exocrine (exo = outward) parts of pancreas play an important role in digestion.

The 'islets of Langerhans' compose the endocrine part of pancreas. These cells release pancreatic hormones 'somatostatin, insulin and glucagon' into the bloodstream. These hormones are essential to maintain normal level of blood sugar in your body. Glucagon helps raise the blood sugar while insulin stimulates the cells to use glucose, the main source of energy. Scarcity of insulin or insulin resistance leads to diabetes. It is believed that somatostatin regulates the secretion of glucagon and insulin.

Acinar cells or the exocrine cells produce the enzymes which pass along with the food through the duodenum and rest of the digestive system. They enhance the process of digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates and at the end, they are excreted.

We all know that the esophagus carries the food from the mouth and empties it into the stomach. Stomach acids break down the food and pass it to the duodenum (first part of the small intestine). Here the bile and the pancreatic fluids (produced by the acinar cells) join the digestive tract. The pancreatic enzymes neutralize the stomach acids. A mixture of proteins and sodium bicarbonate produced in the pancreas helps reduce the acidity of stomach contents entering into the duodenum. The enzymes and sodium bicarbonate are constantly released by the pancreas but they are released in very small quantities (about 0.2 - 0.3 ml per minute). As soon as food is sensed in the small intestine, pancreas starts secreting greater amount of pancreatic fluid (about 3 mls per minute).

A number of factors trigger the pancreas to empty enzymes into the first part of the small intestine. These include visual perception of the food, smell, taste and ingestion of food, stomach distention as it fills with food, presence of various gastrointestinal hormones, etc. A particular type of peptide called pancreatic polypeptide (PP), produced by the pancreas, then curbs enzyme secretion. The vagal nerve triggers the secretion of PP. Studies show that certain foods inhibit enzyme secretion. Fatty acids and monoglycerides greatly influence pancreatic enzyme secretion. Thus it is clear that what you eat greatly influences pancreas function. A person needs to follow a pancreatitis diet if he/she is diagnosed with pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas is referred to as pancreatitis. Chronic and acute pancreatitis are the two types of pancreatitis. More research is needed to establish the relationship between alcohol abuse and pancreatic damage but statistics show that mortality rate of patients with alcoholic pancreatitis is about 36% higher than that of the general population. Severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, swollen or tender abdomen, rapid pulse rate, fever, sweating are some of the commonly noticed symptoms of pancreatitis. Genetics, gallstones, nutritional factors can cause pancreatitis and it can prove to be fatal. Pancreatitis patients need immediate medical attention. They should consult a doctor for proper pancreatitis diet.

Those who have experienced pancreatitis attacks, should quit alcohol, follow the specially designed diet, and take prescribed medications to lower the intensity and frequency of pancreatitis attacks.