Pancreas

• The pancreas is a tongue-shaped gland located below the stomach
• It is composed of two types of cells:

  normal pancreatic cells that secrete digestive juice, pancreatic juice

  the islets of Langerhans that secrete two hormones; insulin and glucagon
• Pancreatic juice contains enzymes to break down carbohydrates (amylase), fats (lipases) and proteins (proteases)
• Pancreatic juice is transported via the pancreatic duct, which joins the common bile duct
• The common bile and pancreatic duct opens into the duodenum
• The pancreas is both an exocrine and endocrine gland
• Endocrine (ductless) glands release their secretions directly into the bloodstream
• Normal pancreatic cells secrete pancreatic juice into the pancreatic duct which opens into the duodenum (exocrine function)
• Islets of Langerhans secrete the hormones insulin and glucagon directly into the bloodstream (endocrine function)