Question

Explain the role of pancreas in digestion of food materials.

Answer 1

Hint: Digestion is the process by which food substances are broken down into their simpler forms. This helps in absorption of the minerals present in food by the body. Digestion is aided by various enzymes and juices released by various organs of the body.

Complete step by step answer: The pancreas is a mixed organ located behind the stomach in the abdomen. The pancreas is called a mixed gland because it exerts endocrine as well as exocrine functions. The endocrine secretion of pancreas are hormones like glucagon, insulin and somatostatin. Exocrine pancreas secretes pancreatic juice that helps to bring about the process of digestion.
The pancreas releases the pancreatic juice into the duodenum via pancreatic ducts. The pancreatic juice is composed of enzymes. The functions of the enzymes of the pancreatic juice are described as follows:
Lipase helps to break down the fat particles.
Protease breaks down the proteins. The two proteases in pancreatic juice are Trypsin and Chymotrypsin.
Amylase helps to break down starch in sugar.
Once the chyme (partially digested food from stomach) is propelled into the duodenum, the walls of the duodenum releases hormones like secretin and cholecystokinin into the bloodstream. These hormones stimulate the release of pancreatic juice into the duodenum. The pancreatic juice is alkaline due to the presence of a large amount of bicarbonate. This alkaline nature of the pancreatic juice helps to neutralize the acidic chyme and makes the medium suitable for enzymatic action.

Additional Information: The pancreas is an important organ of the digestive and endocrine system of the human body. It secretes digestive juices and hormones. As stated earlier, pancreas is a mixed gland because it serves as both an endocrine and an exocrine gland. The endocrine secretion of the pancreas is insulin, glucagon and somatostatin. Insulin functions to lower blood glucose while glucagon functions to increase the blood glucose. The interplay between glucagon and insulin helps to maintain the sugar level in blood. Somatostatin, on the other hand, serves to decrease the release of both insulin and glucagon. The exocrine secretion of pancreas is the pancreatic juice which contains enzymes to help in digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Note: Pancreas is an important organ in our body. It is located in the visceral part of the body behind the abdomen. Pancreas secretes pancreatic juice that contains enzymes required for digestion. The pancreatic juice is secreted and carried to the duodenum via the pancreatic duct. The endocrine cells of the pancreas secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. These hormones help in glucose homeostasis. If the cells of the pancreas do not work properly, it can lead to indigestion and diarrhea. If the endocrine cells malfunctions, it can cause diabetes – that is an increase in the amount of blood glucose level.