The pancreas is a 'leaf-shaped' organ found deep inside the abdomen. The abdomen is the part of the body between the chest and pelvis. The abdomen contains such organs as the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, intestines and other structures (see Figure 2.2).

Diagram of the digestive system

Figure 2.2 The digestive tract (or gastrointestinal system) is the tube-like passage from the mouth, through the stomach and intestines to the anus, together with the organs that connect with it (e.g. the liver and pancreas). (Source: The Open University, 2006, Living with Diabetes, Figure 2.1)

Alpha and beta are the first two letters in the Greek alphabet; they can also be written as the Greek symbols α and β.

The pancreas has a short connecting tube (the pancreatic duct, see Figure 2.3), which opens into the small intestine so that pancreatic juices can help with the process of digestion (as you learned in the Nutrition Module). Specialised cells in a part of the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans (after its discoverer) produce the hormones insulin and glucagon. The beta cells produce insulin and the alpha cells produce glucagon. When the body is healthy these two hormones help to keep the amount of glucose in the blood at the right level. If the pancreas is severely damaged or removed by operation, the production of insulin and glucagon will stop and diabetes will result.

Diagram of cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas produce insulin and glucagon.

Figure 2.3 Cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas produce insulin and glucagon. (Source: The Open University, 2006, Living with Diabetes, Figure 2.2)
Last modified: Monday, 23 June 2014, 6:16 PM