It runs the length of the pancreas. The endocrine gland consists of the islets of Langerhans. It secretes hormones into the blood. The enzymes secreted by the exocrine gland in the pancreas help break down carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and acids in the duodenum. It is spongy, about six to ten inches long, and is shaped like a flat pear or a fish extended horizontally across the abdomen. The wide part, called the head of the pancreas, is positioned toward the center of the abdomen.
The head of the pancreas is located at the juncture where the stomach meets the first part of the small intestine. This is where the stomach empties partially digested food into the intestine, and the pancreas releases digestive enzymes into these contents. Several major blood vessels surround the pancreas, the superior mesenteric artery, the superior mesenteric vein, the portal vein and the celiac axis, supplying blood to the pancreas and other abdominal organs.
The remaining tissue consists of endocrine cells called islets of Langerhans. These clusters of cells look like grapes and produce hormones that regulate blood sugar and regulate pancreatic secretions. A healthy pancreas produces the correct chemicals in the proper quantities, at the right times, to digest the foods we eat.
The pancreas contains exocrine glands that produce enzymes important to digestion. These enzymes include trypsin and chymotrypsin to digest proteins; amylase for the digestion of carbohydrates; and lipase to break down fats. When food enters the stomach, these pancreatic juices are released into a system of ducts that culminate in the main pancreatic duct. The pancreatic duct joins the common bile duct to form the ampulla of Vater which is located at the first portion of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
Search Search. You and Your Hormones. Students Teachers Patients Browse. Human body. Home Glands. It does this by producing digestive enzymes that are released into your small bowel to break down and digest food. It also makes hormones that control your blood glucose levels. Your skin is covered in sweat glands of which there are two types: eccrine and apocrine.
Your eccrine glands open directly onto your skin and regulate your body temperature by releasing water to the surface of your skin when your body temperature rises. Apocrine glands open into the hair follicle and are found in hair-bearing areas, such as the skin, armpits, and groin. These glands secrete a milky fluid, usually as a response to stress. Your body also contains modified apocrine glands:.
Sebaceous glands are located throughout your skin, though there are few on your hands and feet and none on your palms and soles. They secrete an oily substance called sebum that lubricates your skin.
Your salivary glands are located in your mouth. You have hundreds of small glands located throughout your:. Salivary glands produce saliva and empty into your mouth through ducts. Saliva serves a few important purposes, including moistening your food to help you chew, swallow, and digest it. Saliva also contains antibodies that kill germs to keep your mouth healthy.
Mammary glands, which are a type of sweat gland, are responsible for the production of breastmilk. Males also have glandular tissue in the breasts, but estrogen produced during puberty triggers the growth of this tissue in females. Hormonal changes during pregnancy signal the ducts to produce milk in preparation for the baby.
There are a number of different problems that can affect the glands. Depending on the glands affected, a person could experience symptoms that affect different parts of the body. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are common thyroid disorders. Hyperthyroidism is the result of an overactive thyroid that produces too much thyroid hormone.
Both conditions can cause an enlarged thyroid gland, or goiter. Hypothyroidism can also cause unintentional weight gain , fatigue, and a slow heart rate, while hyperthyroidism does the opposite, causing unintended weight loss, nervousness, and a rapid heart rate. Both conditions can usually be treated with medication to restore proper thyroid function. A healthy pancreas releases insulin when blood sugar gets too high.
Insulin causes your cells to convert sugar to use as energy or to store it as fat. Diabetes can lead to a number of serious complications, including nerve damage, heart disease , and stroke.
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