Case Study

1. Describe the anatomic location of the pancreas relative to the other organs in the upper portion of the abdominal cavity.

The pancreas is about 6 in long and sits across the back side of the abdomen, behind the stomach. The head of the pancreas is on the right side of the abdomen and is connected to the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine) through a small tube called the pancreatic duct. The narrow end of the pancreas, called the tail, extends to the left side of the body.

2. Describe the functional anatomy of the duct system that conveys bile from the liver and digestive juice from the pancreas to the lumen of the duodenum.

Pancreatic juice is a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and digestive enzymes that travel through the pancreatic ducts directly into the lumen of the duodenum. Chyme is partially digested food that travels from the stomach into the duodenum, and trypsm, amylase, and lipase are the digestive enzymes which break down proteins, starches, and fats and are carried to the duodenum from the stomach. The liver manufactures and secretes Bile, which is a fluid released into the duodenum that aids in digestion of fat.

3. Briefly outline the endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas.

The pancreas contains two glands, both the endocrine and the exocrine. The endocrine section of the pancreas secretes hormones insulin and glucagon. The exocrine section secretes the digestive enzymes, or pancreatic juice.

4. Describe the hormonal control of the secretion of bile and pancreatic juice during the digestive process.

Gastrin - Causes mixing of stomach contents & releases the pyloric sphincter when the stomach is full and dumps contents of stomach into small intestine

5. Explain why proteases are secreted in an inactive state and describe the means by which proteases are activated in the stomach and small intestine.

Digestion of proteins is initiated by pepsin in the stomach, but the bulk of protein digestion is due to the...