PANCREAS Meaning and
Definition
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The pancreas is a vital organ in the human body, situated in the abdominal cavity, primarily behind the stomach. It plays a critical role in the digestion and regulation of blood sugar levels. Functioning as an endocrine and exocrine gland, the pancreas serves two primary purposes.
Firstly, as an exocrine gland, the pancreas secretes pancreatic juice into the small intestine. This juice contains digestive enzymes such as amylase, lipase, protease, and nucleases, which aid in the breakdown of food particles, especially carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, respectively. This process facilitates the absorption of essential nutrients by the intestines.
Secondly, the pancreas acts as an endocrine gland that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream. The notable hormones produced by the pancreas are insulin and glucagon, both of which are involved in regulating blood sugar levels. Insulin reduces blood glucose levels by facilitating the absorption of glucose into cells, promoting its storage as glycogen. Conversely, glucagon helps to increase blood sugar levels by stimulating the breakdown of glycogen into glucose, which is then released into the bloodstream.
Any disruption in the proper functioning of the pancreas can lead to serious health conditions. For instance, pancreatic insufficiency can result in malabsorption, causing malnutrition and digestive problems. Diabetes mellitus, on the other hand, can arise from insufficient production or utilization of insulin. Therefore, the pancreas plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health by supporting digestion and regulating blood sugar levels.
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Abdominal salivary gland; in animals used for food, abdominal sweetbread; an elongated lobulated gland, devoid of capsule, extending from the concavity of the duodenum to the spleen; it consists of a flattened head (caput) at the duodenal end, a curved neck (collum) and an elongated three-sided body (corpus) extending transversely across the abdomen. The tail (cauda) is the pointed left extremity of the body in contact with the spleen. The gland secretes the pancreatic juice, discharged into the intestine, and an internal secretion.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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A fleshy gland situated under and behind the stomach; the sweet-bread of cattle.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for PANCREAS *
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Other Common Misspellings for PANCREAS
Etymology of PANCREAS
The word "pancreas" has its roots in Ancient Greek. It comes from the combination of two Greek words: "pan" meaning "all" or "entire", and "kreas" meaning "flesh". Therefore, the literal meaning of "pancreas" is "all flesh" or "entire flesh". This term was used because the pancreas is an organ that appears to have a fleshy consistency when compared to other organs in the body.
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