THE PANCREASSara Neff, Keenan Walker, & Mikala Copenhaver

OVERVIEW

• Anatomy

• Controls blood sugar levels

• Part of the digestive system

• Located behind the Stomach

• Diabetes and Cancer

ANATOMY

• About 6 inches long

• 4 parts• Head• Neck • Body• Tail

LOCATION

• The pancreas is a long flattened gland located deep in the belly. Part of the pancreas is sandwiched between the stomach and the spine. The other part is nestled in the curve of the first part of the small intestine. The pancreas isn’t seen or felt in our day to day lives, so most people don't know as much about the pancreas as they do about other parts of their bodies. The pancreas is, however, an important part of the digestive system and a critical controller of blood sugar levels.

• touch your right thumb and right "pinkie" fingers together, keeping the other three fingers together and straight. Then, place your hand in the center of your belly just below your lower ribs with your fingers pointing to your left. Your hand will be the approximate shape and at the approximate level of your pancreas.

FUNCTIONS

• Regulates Blood sugar levels• Hormones of the Pancreas insulin and glcagon work hand in hand to regulate

blood sugar• The Pancreas releases the hormones.• The body uses the sugar as energy

• Digestive System• Produces enzymes that help digest food

FUNCTIONS CONTINUED…

• The bulk of the pancreas is composed of “exocrine” cells called acinar cells that produce enzymes to help with the digestion of food. These exocrine cells release their enzymes into a series of progressively larger tubes (called ducts) that eventually join together to form the main pancreatic duct. The main pancreatic duct runs the length of the pancreas and drains the fluid produced by the exocrine cells into the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.

• The second function of the pancreas is that the "endocrine" pancreas is composed of small islands of cells or groups of cells, called the islets of Langerhans. They are small islands of endocrine tissue scattered throughout the pancreas. There are 3 main islet cells. o Alpha cells: release glucagon to break down glycogen into glucose, in other words lower the

amount of glucose in the blood stream.o Beta cells: release insulin to store glucose by converting glucose into glycogen, in other words it

allows blood sugar to enter the cells and create energy. o Delta cells: release somatostatin to stop or regulate the jobs of all the other hormones that are

active. These endocrine cells release their hormones, such as insulin and glucagon, into the blood stream,

and these hormones work together to help control blood sugar (glucose) levels.

THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

• Organs involved• Mouth, throat, stomach, small intestines, large intestines (colon)

• The Pancreas• Produce enzymes (digestive juices)• Enzymes secrete into small intestines• These enzymes help further break down food.

FEEDBACK

Feedback for both insulin and glucagon is negative.

• Glucagon- the more you consume the less is produced and the longer you g without eating more is produced.

• Insulin- the hormone is released more when you consume glucose and will continue to release with the more glucose that is released.

DISEASES, SYMPTOMS, & TREATMENTS

• Type 1 diabetes • immune system attacks and destroys pancreas’ insulin producing cells

• Symptoms: extreme hunger unintended weight loss irritability and other mood changes blurred vision fatigue and weakness Increased thirst

• Treatments: taking insulin carbohydrate counting frequent blood sugar monitoring eating healthy foods exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight

In type 1 diabetes, there is no insulin to let glucose into the cells, so sugar builds up in your bloodstream

DISEASES, SYMPTOMS, & TREATMENTS

• Type 2 diabetes• Pancreas looses the ability to appropriately produce and release insulin• Body also becomes resistant to insulin and blood sugar rises

• symptoms: Increased thirst and frequent urination Increased hunger Weight loss Fatigue Blurred vision Slow-healing sores or frequent infections Areas of darkened skin

• Treatments: Healthy eating Regular exercise Diabetes medication or insulin therapy

…

DISEASES, SYMPTOMS, & TREATMENTS

• Cystic fibrosis Respiratory symptoms:

A persistent cough that produces thick spit and mucus Wheezing Out of breath Decreased ability to exercise Repeated lung infections Inflamed nasal passages or a stuffy nose

Digestive symptoms: Greasy stools Poor weight gain and growth Intestinal blockage ( particularly in newborns) constipation

…

• Treatments: There is no cure for cystic fibrosis, but treatment can ease symptoms and reduce complications.

Medication - antibiotics, mucus thinning drugs, or oral pancreatic enzymes Chest physical therapy Pulmonary rehabilitation – exercise training, nutritional counseling, energy-conserving techniques,

breathing strategies, or psychological counseling or group support or both

Surgical and other procedures – lung transplant or feeding tube

THE ROLE OF GLUCOSE

-a sugar that is a main source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues

Glucose comes from two major sources: food and your liver Sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, where it enters the cells with the help of

insulin Your liver stores and makes glucose When your glucose levels are low, the liver breaks down stored glycogen to keep

your glucose level within a normal range

THE ROLE OF INSULIN

• Once a significant number of islet cells are destroyed, the body will produce little or no insulin.

• Insulin is a hormone that comes from the pancreas

• Pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream

• Insulin circulates, making it possible for sugar to get into your cells

• Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in your blood stream

• As your blood sugar levels drop, so does the secretion of insulin from your pancreas

OTHER DISEASES

Pancreatic cancerPancreatitis Islet cell tumorEnlarged pancreas

LATEST RESEARCH

RESOURCES

• https://www.fredhutch.org/en/diseases/pancreatic-cancer.html

• http://www.gizmag.com/protein-pancreatic-cancer-healthy-cells/37099/

• https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=pancreas+cancer+research&tbm=nws

• http://www.mayoclinic.org/