Pancreatitis where is it located

Two very important blood vessels, the superior mesenteric artery and superior mesenteric vein, cross behind the neck of the pancreas and in front of the uncinate process.

The pancreas is both an exocrine gland and endocrine gland and has two main functions — digestion and blood sugar regulation.

Exocrine cells of the pancreas produce enzymes that help with digestion. When food enters the stomach, exocrine cells release the pancreatic enzymes into a system of small ducts that lead to the main pancreatic duct. The pancreatic duct runs the length of the pancreas and carries pancreatic enzymes and other secretions, collectively called pancreatic juice.

The main pancreatic duct connects with the common bile duct, which carries bile from the gallbladder, and together they connect with the duodenum at a point called the ampulla of Vater. Here, bile and pancreatic enzymes enter the duodenum to aid with the digestion of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.

The endocrine cells of the pancreas produce hormones. Hormones are substances that control or regulate specific functions in the body. They are usually made in one part of the body and carried through the blood to take action on another part of the body. It makes "enzymes to digest proteins, fats, and carbs in the intestines" and produces the hormones insulin and glucagon, he said.

Richard Bowen of Colorado State University's Department of Biomedical Sciences wrote in Hypertexts for Pathophysiology: Endocrine System , "A well-known effect of insulin is to decrease the concentration of glucose in blood.

Insulin also allows glucose to enter muscle and other tissue, works with the liver to store glucose and synthesize fatty acids, and "stimulates the uptake of amino acids," according to Bowen. Insulin is released after eating protein and especially after eating carbohydrates, which increase glucose levels in the blood. If the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin, type 1 diabetes will develop. Unlike insulin, glucagon raises blood sugar levels. According to the Johns Hopkins University Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center , the combination of insulin and glucagon maintains the proper level of sugar in the blood.

The pancreas' second, exocrine function is to produce and release digestive fluids. The bile duct takes the juice to the gallbladder , where it mixes with bile to aid in digestion. The right end of the pancreas is wide and called the head. From the head, the organ tapers to the left.

The middle sections are called the neck and body, while the narrow end on the left side of the body is called the tail. Intense pancreatic pain is usually associated with acute pancreatitis. But some people with severe acute pancreatitis can go on to develop serious complications. Acute pancreatitis is different to chronic pancreatitis , where the pancreas has become permanently damaged from inflammation over many years.

Read more about the symptoms of acute pancreatitis and diagnosing acute pancreatitis. See a GP immediately if you suddenly develop severe abdominal pain.

If this isn't possible, contact NHS for advice. American College of Gastroenterology. Feldman M, et al. Elsevier; Richardson A, et al. Acute pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus: A review. Korean Journal of Internal Medicine. Complementary pancreatitis therapies. National Pancreas Foundation. Braswell-Pickering EA. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. July 15, Khanna S expert opinion. Related Pancreatitis caused by gallstones The pancreas in the digestive system.