The pancreas produces insulin, which lowers blood sugar, and also releases digestive enzymes.
This organ performs two major jobs, making it both an endocrine and an exocrine gland. Clusters of endocrine cells called pancreatic islets release insulin and other hormones into the bloodstream. Insulin helps body cells take up glucose and signals the liver to store it, lowering the concentration of glucose in the blood.
Most of the pancreas is exocrine tissue. Its acinar cells produce pancreatic juice, which travels through ducts into the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. The juice contains bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid and enzymes that digest carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
The pancreas lies behind the stomach and stretches toward the spleen. It is commonly associated with diabetes because problems involving insulin production or response can disrupt blood-sugar control. Pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, is another important disorder and can be linked to gallstones or heavy alcohol use.