The function of the pancreas in the human body and its frequent disorders

The pancreas has a big role in the human digestive system. This organ, also known as Langerhans Island, helps convert the food you eat into a source of energy and produces a number of hormones that maintain body functions.

Want to know what else this organ can do for your body? The following is the review.

Pancreas function for humans

A healthy pancreas is able to produce natural chemicals in the right type, amount, and time. These are the substances you need to digest food and obtain energy.

In general, the functions of the pancreas are as follows.

1. Exocrine function

The pancreas has many exocrine glands that produce digestive enzymes. Exocrine glands are glands that have special channels without passing blood. The hormone produced will pass through its own channel.

The enzymes produced by the exocrine glands of this organ include:

amylase to digest carbohydrates,
lipase to digest fat, as well
trypsin and chymotrypsin to digest protein.

Once food is digested in the stomach, the pancreatic gland will release the various hormones above. The hormones are flowed through a special channel, then meet the bile before finally reaching the 12 finger intestine.

2. Endocrine function

Apart from having an exocrine function, the pancreas also functions as an endocrine gland. That is, this organ also produces hormones that are carried by the blood flow to certain tissues.

The endocrine hormones produced by the pancreas are insulin and glucagon. The two of them work together to balance your blood sugar and energy levels.

When your blood sugar rises, your pancreatic cells will start sending out the hormone insulin to lower blood sugar. The excess glucose in your blood is then converted into energy reserves in the form of glycogen.

Glycogen is stored temporarily in the liver and muscles. Once the blood sugar drops and the body lacks energy, the pancreatic cells form glucagon. This hormone converts glycogen back into glucose, the body's main source of energy.

Anatomy of the human pancreas

The pancreas is an oval-shaped organ located in the upper left side of the stomach, precisely behind the stomach. This organ extends to the spleen and is surrounded by the 12 finger intestine, large intestine, and gallbladder.

The total length of the pancreas is 15-25 cm. The texture resembles a sponge, and looks like an elongated fish or pear. Based on its position, this organ is divided into five parts as follows.

Uncinate process. This area is located under the other part of the pancreas and is covered by the 12 finger intestine.
Head. It is the largest part of the organ with a curved shape like the letter C.
Neck. This section is located between the head and body of the pancreas.
Body. This is the central part of the pancreas. The location is right behind the stomach.
Tail. This is the left side as well as the tip of the pancreas directly adjacent to the spleen.

There are a number of large blood vessels that surround the pancreas. Several blood vessels are connected to the mesentery, which is the digestive organ in the form of a tortuous membrane that is located behind the small intestine and large intestine.

There are also blood vessels that are connected to the liver and intestines. Apart from supplying blood to the major organs connected to them, these vessels also supply oxygen-rich blood to the pancreas.

Pancreas make up tissue

The human pancreas is composed of both exocrine and endocrine tissues. About 95% of all organs consist of exocrine tissue. This tissue produces digestive enzymes which are sent to the small intestine.

Meanwhile, about 5% of the remaining is endocrine tissue which converges into grape-shaped clusters. The cells in it produce hormones that regulate blood sugar and hormone production.

The pancreatic gland is made up of three main types of cells. Each cell forms a different type of hormone. Here are the differences between the three.

Alpha cells produce the hormone glucagon. When the body lacks energy, glucagon will take energy from the reserves stored in the liver and muscles.
Beta cells produce the hormone insulin. The opposite of glucagon, this hormone converts excess blood sugar into energy reserves to be stored in the liver and muscles.
Delta cells produce the hormone somatostatin. This hormone affects the production of digestive enzymes.

Diseases affecting the pancreas

The pancreas can experience disorders caused by inflammation, genetic factors, and cancer. The following are diseases that commonly attack these glands.

1. Acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that occurs suddenly or quickly. Inflammation usually occurs due to gallstone disease or alcohol consumption, but some are caused by:

injury or impact to the pancreas,
viral infection,
autoimmune disorders, and
side effects of certain drugs.

The main symptom of this disease is severe abdominal pain that can last several days. You may also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or flatulence.

2. Chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that gets worse over time, causing permanent damage. This disease is more experienced by men, especially those aged 30-40 years.

Symptoms are the same as for acute pancreatitis. Once the disease gets worse, the sufferer becomes vulnerable to malnutrition. If the gland is completely damaged, the patient will be at risk of developing diabetes mellitus.

3. Pancreatic cancer

The pancreatic gland can be covered with a variety of tissues, from harmless to cancerous. Pancreatic cancer generally begins with the growth of tumor tissue in the duct where digestive enzymes are released.

Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is rarely diagnosed at an early stage because sufferers show no symptoms. Once diagnosed, the doctor will provide treatment according to the patient's condition in the form of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.

4. Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency/ EPI) is a condition when the pancreatic gland doesn't produce enough enzymes. As a result, the body cannot digest food properly.

EPI occurs as a result of pancreatitis or disease cystic fibrosis. Treatment for this disease consists of hormone replacement therapy, giving vitamins and nutritional supplements, and adopting a diet for cystic fibrosis.

Can humans live without a pancreas?

In some cases, the pancreas may have to be removed partially or completely. This is usually done in patients who have pancreatic cancer, chronic pancreatitis, or serious organ damage from injury.

Uniquely, humans can live without these glands, either after partial or total surgical removal. Even so, you certainly need to make adjustments in your life if you no longer have this organ.

People who do not have a pancreas cannot naturally produce insulin. In addition, the body's ability to absorb nutrients is also reduced due to the loss of enzymes important for the digestive process.

Not infrequently, people who live without this organ have a high risk of developing diabetes. Therefore, he needed to have daily injections of insulin and digestive enzymes during his lifetime.

If you have had a similar operation, you don't need to be discouraged. The reason is, appropriate medical care and a healthy lifestyle can increase the life expectancy of people with a medical history like you.

According to one study, patients with non-cancerous conditions (such as pancreatitis) even have a 76 percent chance of surviving the next seven years after surgery. Meanwhile, the odds for pancreatic cancer patients are 31 percent.

The pancreas is a complementary digestive organ that functions to produce various digestive hormones and enzymes. Take care of your pancreas health by eating nutritious foods and living a healthy lifestyle.