Structure and function of pancreas

• how can the pancreas be both endocrine and exocrine gland?


  • releases insulin/glucagon into blood
  • releasing digestive enzymes in pancreas
• what is the role of the pancreas as an exocrine gland?


  • exocrine glandular tissue responsible for producing digestive enzymes and pancreatic juice (alkaline)
  • enzymes/juices secreted into ducts which eventually lead to pancreatic duct
  • from there, released into top of small intestine
• what are the Islets of Langerhans?


  • cells responsible for producing insulin and glucagon, and secreting these hormones directly into the bloodstream
  • contain alpha and beta cells
• what do acinus cells produce?


  digestive enzymes
• what do alpha cells do?


  • produce glucagon
  • larger is size
  • less numerous in abundance
• what do beta cells do?


  • produce insulin
  • smaller relative size
  • more numerous in abundance
• what is the appearance of pancreas cells under a microscope?


  • Islets of Langerhans are lightly stained, large spherical clusters, a part of endocrine pancreas
  • pancreatic acini are darker stained, small berry-like clusters, a part of exocrine pancreas