The pancreas is a yellowish fleshy organ that is about 6- 8 inches long. It is placed horizontally across the upper abdomen, behind the stomach. About 95% of the pancreas is made up of the exocrine gland (which secretes digestive enzymes) and nearly 5 % of it is made up of endocrine glands (which secretes hormones like insulin). The exocrine glands secrete digestive enzymes, which helps to break down carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and acids. An ideal, healthy pancreas will secrete about 1 liter of these enzymes daily. The endocrine gland secretes hormones such as insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream to regulate the blood sugar level.
The inflammation of the pancreas is called pancreatitis and it is a condition that occurs when the digestive enzymes in the pancreas start digesting itself. The condition can either be acute- when the disease manifests suddenly or chronic- when the disease manifests over the years. Both conditions can cause very serious health issues.
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