pancreas diseases : Pancreas diseases and treatment

What is the pancreas?

The pancreas is an elongated gland of about 8" that is positioned horizontally behind the lower portion of the stomach. The head of the pancreas rests against the wall of the duodenum, a section of the small intestine, and it extends outward toward the spleen. This surrounded location makes access to the pancreas difficult.

What are the major functions of the pancreas?

The pancreas does two jobs. It secretes three enzymes that aid digestion of carbohydrates (amylase), proteins (trypsin), and fats (lipase). Scattered throughout the pancreas are tiny clusters of cells, the Islets of Langerhans, which act as an endocrine gland, producing hormones including insulin, glucagon, and somastatin. Essential for metabolizing carbohydrates and regulating blood sugar, or glucose, insulin's main function is to lower blood glucose by stimulating the body's cells to burn glucose for energy. Glucagon has the opposite effect by converting glycogen to glucose in the liver, thus elevating blood sugar. These and other complex metabolic functions are regulated by the pancreatic islets.

http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/cs/programs/pancreas/pancreatic.html