How did hormones travel from pancreas to your liver?

Hormones produced by the pancreas, such as insulin and glucagon, do not travel directly to the liver through a dedicated pathway. Instead, they are released into the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body, reaching various organs and tissues, including the liver.

Here's how pancreatic hormones travel to the liver:

1. Release from the Pancreas: The pancreas releases hormones like insulin and glucagon from specialized cells called beta cells and alpha cells, respectively.

2. Entry into the Bloodstream: These hormones are secreted into the bloodstream directly from the pancreas. The pancreas is located near the liver, so the hormones can rapidly enter the circulation.

3. Circulation through Blood Vessels: Once in the bloodstream, the hormones travel through blood vessels. The hepatic artery, a major blood vessel, supplies oxygen-rich blood to the liver. The hepatic portal vein carries nutrient-rich blood from the digestive organs, including the pancreas, to the liver.

4. Binding to Receptors: The blood carries hormones to various tissues, including the liver. When the hormones reach the liver, they bind to specific receptors on the surface of liver cells (hepatocytes).

5. Signal Transduction: The binding of hormones to receptors triggers a series of biochemical events inside the liver cells. These events lead to changes in cellular function, such as glucose regulation and metabolism.

Insulin, for example, helps control blood glucose levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into liver cells. Glucagon, on the other hand, stimulates the release of glucose from the liver into the bloodstream when blood sugar levels are low.

Therefore, pancreatic hormones travel to the liver through the bloodstream, enabling communication and coordination between these organs to maintain glucose homeostasis and other metabolic functions.