What is the exocrine role of the pancreas?

The exocrine pancreas is responsible for secretion of digestive enzymes, ions and water into the duodenum of the gastrointestinal tract. The digestive enzymes are essential for processing foodstuffs in meals to molecular constituents that can be absorbed across the gastrointestinal surface epithelium.

How is the pancreas regulated?

In the intestinal phase, pancreatic response is regulated primarily by the hormones secretin and CCK, and by neural influences including the enteropancreatic reflex which is mediated by the enteric nervous system and amplifies the pancreatic secretory response.

What is the structure and function of the pancreas?

The pancreas has digestive and hormonal functions: The enzymes secreted by the exocrine gland in the pancreas help break down carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and acids in the duodenum. These enzymes travel down the pancreatic duct into the bile duct in an inactive form. When they enter the duodenum, they are activated.

What is the function of exocrine?

A gland that makes substances such as sweat, tears, saliva, milk, and digestive juices, and releases them through a duct or opening to a body surface. Examples of exocrine glands include sweat glands, lacrimal glands, salivary glands, mammary glands, and digestive glands in the stomach, pancreas, and intestines.

What stimulates pancreatic secretion?

Regulation of Pancreatic Secretion Pancreatic juice is stimulated to flow in response to increases in the blood concentrations of two gastrointestinal hormones, secretin and cholecystokinin. Both hormones are liberated from the duodenal mucosa in response to different components of the luminal environment.

What stimulates the pancreas to release hormones?

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is released from neuroendocrine cells located in the mucosa of the upper small intestine. Food molecules, primarily proteins and fats, stimulate these cells and CCK is released into the blood stream(1, 2). CCK stimulates pancreatic secretion by two possible mechanisms.

Which is responsible for the function of the pancreas?

The main players responsible for pancreatic function are endocrine and exocrine glands. The latter synthesize inactive pancreatic digestive enzymes (zymogens), which are released into the glandular and pancreatic ductal systems.

Where are the PP cells located in the pancreas?

PP (pancreatic polypeptide) cells – these cells secrete pancreatic polypeptide and constitute <5% of the islet cells. They are mostly located within the head of the pancreas. On histology slides, the pancreas can look very similar to other glandular tissue, such as the parotid gland.

What happens to the beta cells in the pancreas?

Insulin. This hormone is made in cells of the pancreas known as beta cells. Beta cells make up about 75% of pancreatic hormone cells. Insulin is the hormone that helps your body use sugar for energy. Without enough insulin, your sugar levels rise in your blood and you develop diabetes.

Why does the pancreas release polypeptides after a meal?

Pancreatic polypeptide released following a meal may reduce further food consumption; however, it is also released in response to fasting. Glucose is utilized in cellular respiration as a fuel for cells of the body. The body derives glucose from the breakdown of the carbohydrate-containing foods and drinks we consume.