|  | Conditions Treatments | Digestive Health

How Does the Tissue & Cell Function Relate to the Structure of the Pancreas?

The tissues of the pancreas perform two distinct tasks: digestion and regulation of blood sugar levels.The pancreas is an oval-shaped organ situated below the stomach, near the small intestine. The pancreas is a gland organ. An organ is a bonded-together mass of tissue that forms a functional unit. Gland organs synthesize materials such as hormones. Hormones regulate many complex bodily functions. They act as on-and-off switches in the body.

  1. Glandular Function

    • There are two types of glandular function. One is endocrine and the other is exocrine. An endocrine gland secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream. An exocrine gland secretes substances into other organs, cavities or surfaces, often via ducts. The pancreas is an endocrine and and exocrine gland.

    Exocrine Function

    • The exocrine parts of the pancreas synthesize and secrete pancreatic juice. This substance contains digestive enzymes. Lipase, amylase, trypsin and carboxypeptidase aid in the breakdown of proteins and fats as well as carbohydrates. The exocrine function also includes secretion of bicarbonate ions. These secretions help neutralize acidic materials emptying from the stomach.

    Endocrine Function

    • The pancreas secretes insulin and glucagon directly into the bloodstream. These two hormones perform opposite functions: insulin reduces blood sugar and glucagon increases blood sugar levels. Insulin enables cells to take up and metabolize blood sugars. Metabolizing sugar produces the energy cells needed to function and survive. Without insulin, sugar builds up in the bloodstream. Unable to absorb sugar, cells starve, and the organs engorged by the abnormally sugar-rich blood suffer. Absence of insulin causes type 1 diabetes.

    Exocrine Tissues

    • The exocrine tissues of the pancreas are composed of basophilic cells and centroacinar, or duct cells. The basophilic cells secrete digestive enzymes. These enzymes flow directly into the main duct of the pancreas, known as the duct of Wirsung. The enzymes head toward the head of the pancreas and end their journey in the small intestine. The centroacinar or duct cells secrete a watery, bicarbonate acid-neutralizing solution. The bicarbonate mix joins the enzymes in the central duct, forming the pancreatic juice essential to healthful digestion.

    Endocrine Tissue

    • Paul Langerhans first described the structure of the endocrine tissues of the pancreas in 1869. He discovered the rope-like peninsular extensions of cells that are now called the islets of Langerhans. The islets are interspersed throughout the pancreas. The islet's design directly follows their function. The islets, or extrusions, are wrapped with capillaries. The cells exude insulin and glucagon directly into the blood stream via these capillaries. The protruding islet structural design increases the surface area available to the capillaries, maximizing absorption efficiency. The endocrine tissues have two types of cells. Alpha cells produce glucagon, and beta cells produce insulin.

    Conditions

    • The pancreas is an important organ. When it doesn't work right, the body suffers. Type 1 diabetes is a serious disease caused by a malfunctioning pancreas. In this autoimmune disorder, the body targets and destroys the insulin-producing islets of Langerhans. Type 1 diabetes can lead to high blood pressure, kidney failure, blindness, and peripheral nerve disease.
      Digestive disorders result when the exocrine part of the pancreas malfunctions.
      Lack of effective digestive enzymes inhibits proper breakdown of food and absorption of nutrients.

Digestive Health - Related Articles