STM Article Repository

The pancreas is an organ of the digestive and endocrine systems in vertebrates. It serves as a gland in humans and is situated in the abdomen, behind the stomach. The pancreas is a mixed or heteroclite gland, meaning that it performs both endocrine and exocrine functions related to digestion. The pancreas is made up of 99% exocrine tissue and 1% endocrine. As an endocrine gland, it secretes the hormones insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide, which primarily regulate blood sugar levels. It performs as an exocrine gland in the digestive system, secreting pancreatic juice into the duodenum via the pancreatic duct. This juice contains digestive enzymes that break down carbs, proteins, and fats in the duodenum as well as bicarbonate, which neutralizes acid entering the duodenum from the stomach [1,2].