How the Body Works : The Pancreas

The Pancreas

The pancreas is shown here with the foreground highly magnified to reveal its inner anatomy. Ninety-nine percent of pancreatic tissue is composed of acinar glands, which secrete an alkaline digestive juice into the duodenum via the pancreatic duct to help digest food. The endocrine areas of the pancreas, known as the islets of Langerhans, are composed of two major types of cell. The alpha cells secrete the hormone glucagon, and the beta cells secrete insulin, into the bloodstream. These hormones work in opposition to control the blood glucose level. Insulin promotes the uptake and usage of glucose in the tissues, particularly skeletal muscle and fat, and reduces glucose production in the liver. Glucagon has an anti-insulin effect in the liver, increasing glucose release. The anatomy of the pancreas also includes: the ampulla of the common bile duct: the pancreatic duct, which carries digestive juice containing enzymes to the duodenum; the acini, the exocrine portions of the pancreas which secrete digestive juice into the pancreas; the splenic arteries which conduct oxygenated blood into the pancreas; and the mesenteric veins, which carry deoxygenated blood containing insulin and glucagon away from the pancreas.

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[marijumango]

i love my pancereas!

[slcricket]

in type II (non-insulin dependent) people begin to develop insulin resistance, i.e. body cells don't respond to insulin and take up glucose from the blood, so initially theres no apparent abornmality in the islets. however as the disease progresses, the B cells increase their insulin secretion because the blood glucose remains high, and eventually they sort of wear themselves out.

[LesterAmont]

I too have noticed how much better i feel after a fresh meal

[GordonMorrice]

@LesterAmont Great reply! I had read that booze gets processed ahead of other edibles but your post makes that clearer, so thanks! I have started seeming out, even politely demanding fresh shit as it's so obvious that the more of that primordial grub I eat then then better I feel! Feels good man!

[GordonMorrice]

@LesterAmont BIG advice, brother! Thanks a trillion! I need to get healthy and vibrant. Thanks for the better perspective!

[cfc4rlife8]

@marijumango penis? :D

[LesterAmont]

@GordonMorrice glad you liked it, it took me a little while. Not too sure about how the food reacts. I will say this: alcohol and most other drugs/toxins are processed in your liver cause they hit your blood stream shortly after your stomach, alcohol in particular is water soluble and jumps the membranes of the small intestine without any enzyme interaction. Foods which are fresh and raw contain nutrients which are readily absorbed, I try to eat these but also enjoy those foods and alcohol

[GordonMorrice]

@LesterAmont A most magnificent reply! Which foods do you eat?I want to eat ony good food but I love alcoholic drinks, Chinese food, Indian food. Is there a way for me?

[LesterAmont]

@GordonMorrice The enzymes travel down the pancreatic duct as zymogens (inactivated enzymes) to the Duodenum which is the first part of the small intestine. Here they are activated and facilitate the digestion of protiens, lipids, nucleic acids and carbohydrates so that the Small Intestine can absorb some 90% of nutrients which are found in the food we eat. I think Krak the Quacktastic Cracker at krakrocks.bandcamp.com knows how to make this knowledge into melody.

[GordonMorrice]

What happens after the enzymes leaves the pancreas?

[JJAB91]

I hate my pancreas ):