Pancreatic Disease
The pancreas is a narrow, flat organ about six inches long, with a head, middle, and tail section. It is located below the liver, between the stomach and the spine, and its head section connects to the duodenum. Inside the pancreas, small ducts (tubes) feed fluids produced by the pancreas into the pancreatic duct. This larger duct carries the fluids down the length of the pancreas, from the tail to the head, and into the duodenum. The common bile duct also runs through the head section of the pancreas, carrying bile from the liver and gall bladder into the small intestine. The bile duct and the pancreatic duct usually join just before entering the duodenum and so have a common opening into the small intestine.
Pancreas Tissues
Exocrine- which make powerful enzymes to digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. The enzymes normally are created and carried to the duodenum in an inactive form, then activated as needed. Exocrine tissue also makes bicarbonates that work to neutralize stomach acids.
Endocrine- which produce the hormones insulin and glucagon and release them into the blood stream. These hormones regulate glucose transport into the body's cells and are crucial for energy production.
Diseases Of The Pancreas
1. PANCREATITIS
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. It is caused when the digestive enzymes from the exocrine pancreas become activated inside of the pancreas, instead of in the duodenum, and start “digesting” the pancreas itself. It usually presents with abdominal pain and can cause nausea and vomiting.
2. PANCREATIC INSUFFICIANCY
Pancreatic insufficiency is the inability of the pancreas to produce and/or transport enough digestive enzymesto break down food in the intestine and allow its absorption. occurs as the result of progressive pancreatic damage - It is most frequently associated with cystic fibrosis in children and with chronic pancreatitis in adults.
3. PANCREATIC CANCER
Main Causes of Pancreatic cancer are chronic pancreatitis, and exposure to some industrial chemicals. Most (95%) pancreatic cancers are adenocarcinomas, developing in the exocrine tissues. Pancreatic cancer is very difficult to detect in the early stages because symptoms are either absent or nonspecific: abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and sometimes jaundice. Only about 10% of the cancers are still contained within the pancreas at the time of diagnosis.
