The 10 parts of the pancreas: its characteristics and functions.

These are the parts of the pancreas, its anatomical characteristics and its functions in the organism.

Among all the organs of the human body, the pancreas is one of the most important given its implications in the digestive and endocrine systems.

Thanks to this glandular structure our Blood sugar levels are regulated, in addition to the fact that without its capacity to produce enzymes it would be very difficult to digest.

Below we will review some of its functions and, in particular, what are the parts of the pancreas? what are the parts of the pancreas.

What is the pancreas?

In the human body we can find more than 80 organs, which work in a coordinated way not only to keep us alive but also so that we can carry out physical and mental activities. Among the most important are the pancreas, since its functions are essential for our body, being part of both the digestive and endocrine systems.

The pancreas helps digest food in the small intestine, as well as being responsible for the synthesis of many hormones important for the regulation of glucose levels. important for the regulation of blood glucose levels, including insulin. This and other functions will be discussed in more detail by reviewing the parts of the pancreas, in addition to the anatomical characteristics of this organ as a whole.

The pancreas is an organ known for being the second largest hormonal gland in our body, only surpassed in size by the liver.. It is a glandular structure located in the abdominal cavity, just behind the stomach, between the spleen and the duodenum, at the level of the second lumbar vertebra and together with the adrenal glands.

This organ, which is part of the digestive and endocrine systems, has an elongated shape, similar to that of a flat pear, with a length that is usually between 15 and 20 cm, with an average thickness of 4 and 5 cm and a weight between 70 and 150 grams. It functions as an exocrine and endocrine gland at the same time, that is, on the one hand it can synthesize non-hormonal substances, which are released into different cavities of the organism, while on the other hand it synthesizes and releases hormones into the bloodstream.

Thus, we can see its exocrine activity helping food digestion, releasing different enzymes to the small intestine (pancreatic juice), among them amylases, lipases and proteases, substances that degrade complex carbohydrates, fats and proteins respectively; while its endocrine activity consists, among other functions, in regulating blood sugar levels by releasing hormones to the blood vessels that modulate the amount of glucose, especially insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide.

The parts of the pancreas (and their anatomical and functional characteristics).

Now that we have seen a bit what are the main functions of the pancreas and how is its shape, let's see more in depth what are the parts of this gland. This organ of glandular nature is morphologically divided into head, neck, body and tail.These structures are formed by other parts that carry out specific functions, intervening in both the digestive and endocrine systems.

1. Head

The head is the thickest part of this organ. It is located to the right and is located behind the liver, partially surrounding the duodenum, which is the first region of the small intestine. the first region of the small intestine and where the pancreas empties the pancreatic juice.. It is for this reason that the head is the region where most of the cells linked to the exocrine activity are found, synthesizing the pancreatic juice.

2. Neck

The neck is an anatomical region that simply serves as a connection between the head and the body of the pancreas.. It is the part in which it can be observed as a change of direction in the pancreas, having a deviation in its structure.

3. Body

The body is the part of the pancreas that begins after the neck, being this region behind the stomach. This part ascends vertically and is the longest region of the pancreas, housing most of the cells of the pancreas.It is the longest region of the pancreas, housing most of the cells involved in endocrine activity.

4. Tail

The tail is the narrowest part of the pancreas. It is a pointed end, which is like an extension of the pancreatic body, and is in contact with the stomach and spleen, and most of the cells it contains are in contact with the pancreas. most of the cells it contains are linked to endocrine activity, synthesizing and releasingThe majority of the cells it contains are involved in endocrine activity, synthesizing and releasing hormones such as insulin and glucagon.

5. Wirsung's duct

The duct of Wirsung is also known as the main pancreatic duct. It consists of a tube that originates in the tail of the pancreas, advancing through its entire body until it reaches the tail, where it collects the pancreatic juice with the enzymes that digest food, carrying this liquid to the main outlet of the pancreas: the ampulla of Vater.This liquid is then conducted to the main outlet of the pancreas: the ampulla of Vater.

6. Ampulla of Vater

The ampulla of Vater or major duodenal papilla is an opening through which the an opening through which the duct of Wirsung and which allows the release of pancreatic juice into the duodenum. Through this part most of the pancreatic juice is released into the digestive system.

7. Duct of Santorini

Also called accessory pancreatic duct, the duct of Santorini would be something like the little brother of the duct of Wirsung. It is a secondary pancreatic duct a secondary pancreatic duct, which consists of a tube that originates as a prolongation or deviation of the duct of Wirsung in the area of the head of the pancreas.. It is narrower than the other duct and also serves to release pancreatic juice.

8. Lesser duodenal papilla

The minor duodenal papilla is the second opening from the pancreas into the duodenum. It is the opening that has the duct of Santorini, being smaller than the ampulla.It is smaller than the ampulla of Vater and, like this other part of the pancreas, serves to discharge pancreatic juices into the small intestine.

9. Uncinate process

The uncinate process is a region of the pancreas that folds backwards and below the head of the pancreas, having a shape similar to that of the pancreas.It has a hook-like shape. This part of the pancreatic organ, although with a peculiar shape, turns out to have a certain aura of mystery since its physiological function is not clearly known to this day.

10. Islets of Langerhans

The islets of Langerhans, also called pancreatic islets, are a group of islets of Langerhans. clusters of cells found throughout the pancreas, especially abundant in the body and in the tail..

These cells specialize in synthesizing all the hormones involved in the endocrine system, being involved in the regulation of blood sugar levels. All the pancreatic endocrine activity of the pancreas is due to these clusters of cells.