The pancreas is an organ in the upper abdomen located beneath the stomach and adjacent to the first portion of the small intestine, called the duodenum. The pancreas is composed of glands that are responsible for a wide variety of tasks. The glandular functions of the pancreas can be divided into the following 2 categories:
- Endocrine: The endocrine glands secrete hormones, including insulin, into the bloodstream. Insulin is carried by the blood throughout the rest of the body to assist in the process of using sugar as an energy source. Insulin also controls the levels of sugar in the blood.
- Exocrine: The exocrine glands secrete enzymes into ducts that eventually empty into the duodenum. These enzymes then help in the digestion of food as it moves through the intestines.
The pancreas can be divided into the following 4 anatomical sections:
- Head - The rightmost portion that lies adjacent to the duodenum
- Uncinate process - An extension of the head of the pancreas
- Body - The middle portion of the pancreas
- Tail - The leftmost portion of the pancreas that lies adjacent to the spleen
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