Anatomy & physiology
The pancreas is an organ producing hormones and digestive enzymes.
The pancreas is located behind the stomach. The head of the pancreas is connected to the duodenum. The pancreas secretes into the duodenum digestive enzymes, which help digest food. Together with digestive enzymes of the pancreas, bile is channeled to the duodenum via a common duct. Most of digestive enzymes are produced in the head and body parts, or central part, of the pancreas.
Another part of the pancreas produces hormones. Most hormone producing cells are located in the body and tail parts of the pancreas. The pancreas produces a wide range of hormones, the most important for the purposes of this chapter being insulin and glucagon.
Insulin is a hormone that lowers the blood sugar level. There are two types of tissue in the body:
1) The presence of insulin is required to take up sugar. For instance, the muscles, liver do not take up sugar without insulin.
2) Insulin is not required to take up sugar. For example, the brain. Brain cells can take up sugar without insulin.
With the help of insulin sugar is stored in the liver, muscles and other insulin dependent tissue after eating.
Glucagon is a hormone that increases the blood sugar level. The main effect in the liver, where it releases the blood sugar stored there.
Both of the hormones are produced in the islets of the pancreas. See picture. Beta cells producing insulin are light blue, while green alpha cells producing glucagon are at the edges.
When does the release of insulin take place?
Massive release of insulin takes place during eating and immediately thereafter. The highest insulin level is required to store insulin in insulin dependent tissue (muscles, liver). During the period between meals and at night-time the insulin level drops, yet insulin is released permanently in small quantities.
When does the release of glucagon take place?
Immediately after eating the glucagon level is low. The release of glucagon is decreased by the sugar taken up from food and the insulin released. During the period between meals and at night-time the glucagon level rises, in order to release the sugar stored previously. The sugar released is required for the normal functioning of the brain, heart, kidneys and other organs.
The pancreas is located behind the stomach. The head of the pancreas is connected to the duodenum. The pancreas secretes into the duodenum digestive enzymes, which help digest food. Together with digestive enzymes of the pancreas, bile is channeled to the duodenum via a common duct. Most of digestive enzymes are produced in the head and body parts, or central part, of the pancreas.
Another part of the pancreas produces hormones. Most hormone producing cells are located in the body and tail parts of the pancreas. The pancreas produces a wide range of hormones, the most important for the purposes of this chapter being insulin and glucagon.
Insulin is a hormone that lowers the blood sugar level. There are two types of tissue in the body:
1) The presence of insulin is required to take up sugar. For instance, the muscles, liver do not take up sugar without insulin.
2) Insulin is not required to take up sugar. For example, the brain. Brain cells can take up sugar without insulin.
With the help of insulin sugar is stored in the liver, muscles and other insulin dependent tissue after eating.
Glucagon is a hormone that increases the blood sugar level. The main effect in the liver, where it releases the blood sugar stored there.
Both of the hormones are produced in the islets of the pancreas. See picture. Beta cells producing insulin are light blue, while green alpha cells producing glucagon are at the edges.
When does the release of insulin take place?
Massive release of insulin takes place during eating and immediately thereafter. The highest insulin level is required to store insulin in insulin dependent tissue (muscles, liver). During the period between meals and at night-time the insulin level drops, yet insulin is released permanently in small quantities.
When does the release of glucagon take place?
Immediately after eating the glucagon level is low. The release of glucagon is decreased by the sugar taken up from food and the insulin released. During the period between meals and at night-time the glucagon level rises, in order to release the sugar stored previously. The sugar released is required for the normal functioning of the brain, heart, kidneys and other organs.
