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Endocrinology Health Guide

The Pancreas


UMMC's Diabetes and Endocrinology Program ranked as one of the nation's 50 best by U.S. News & World Report's 2010 "Best Hospitals" survey.

Anatomy of the pancreas:
The pancreas is an elongated, tapered organ located across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach. The right side of the organ (called the head) is the widest part of the organ and lies in the curve of the duodenum, the first division of the small intestine. The tapered left side extends slightly upward (called the body of the pancreas) and ends near the spleen (called the tail).

The pancreas is made up of two types of tissue:

exocrine tissue
The exocrine tissue secretes digestive enzymes. These enzymes are secreted into a network of ducts that join the main pancreatic duct, which runs the length of the pancreas.

endocrine tissue
The endocrine tissue, which consists of the islets of Langerhans, secretes hormones into the bloodstream.

Functions of the pancreas:
The pancreas has digestive and hormonal functions:


This page was last updated on: August 3, 2010.

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