Essay On Pancreas

1339 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Diabetes mellitus type 1

Type 1 Diabetes and the Artificial Pancreas
The pancreas is a long flattened gland located deep in the abdomen that is vital part of the digestive system and a critical controller of blood sugar levels (“The Pancreas”).
The pancreas is two glands that are combined into one organ. The majority of the pancreas is composed of exocrine cells that produce enzymes to help with food digestion. The exocrine cells release their enzymes into a series of tubes, or ducts, that join together to form the main pancreatic duct (“Functions of the Pancreas”). The main pancreatic duct runs the length of the pancreas and drains the fluid produced by the exocrine cells into the first part of the small bowel, or duodenum (“Functions of the Pancreas”). The second functional component of the pancreas is the endocrine pancreas, which is composed of small islands of cells, and as a result of their appearance are called the islets of Langerhans (“Functions of the Pancreas”). These endocrine cells they
When the blood glucose levels rise, insulin is released into the bloodstream by the islets of Langerhans (“How Does the Pancreas Work?”). The insulin is then able to transport sugar from the blood into the cells of the body, so that it can be converted into energy for the cells to use. Insulin can also keep the liver from producing more sugar, which has the effect of lowering blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels are too low, the pancreas releases glucagon into the bloodstream, which acts as an antagonist to insulin, causing liver cells to release stored sugar and convert proteins into sugar to make them available as another source of energy (“How Does the Pancreas Work?”). The flow of glucagon is then stopped when blood glucose levels rise to a safe

Show More
Related

  • Diabetes

    992 Words  | 2 Pages

    Diabetes is a disease that causes an abnormally high level of sugar, or glucose, to build up in the blood. Glucose comes from food we consume and also from our liver and muscles. Blood delivers glucose to all the cells in the body. In people without diabetes, the pancreas makes a chemical called insulin which is released into the blood stream. Insulin helps the glucose from the food get into cells. When the pancreas doesn’t make insulin, it can’t get into the cells and the insulin stays in the blood stream. The blood glucose level gets very high, causing the person to have type one diabetes.

    Read More

  • Type 1 Diabetes

    1271 Words  | 3 Pages

    Type 1 diabetes develops when the beta-cells are killed off by the immune system. This is because an inflammation is caused which the immune system fights off, ultimately destroying all/majority of beta cells. The role of the beta cells is to produce insulin within the pancreas. The beta cells are signalled when to release insulin’s to certain parts of the body. A person with type 1 diabetes is likely to have lost 70-80%1 of their beta-cells mass which is why they must manually inject insulin into themselves to maintain a healthy blood glucose level. When the blood glucose level falls (hypoglycaemia) you begin to lose energy.

    Read More

  • Blood Glucose Lab Report

    546 Words  | 2 Pages

    This is monitored by the cells within the Islets of Langerhans, which is located in the control (the pancreas). After skipping a meal or tough physical exercise blood glucose concentration decreases. Alpha cells in the islets detect this drop and are stimulated to secrete glucagon. Glucagon is a polypeptide hormone which influences an increase in blood glucose concentration. Glucagon travels through the bloodstream until it reaches glucagon receptors which are predominantly found in the liver, as well as, the kidneys. Glucagon stimulates the breakdown of stored glycogen to be released into the bloodstream as glucose. It also stimulates the conversion of amino acids into glucose and the breakdown of fat into fatty acids. These effectors cause an increase in blood glucose levels back towards the normal. This increase in blood glucose concentration is detected by the alpha cells which then stop the secretion of

    Read More

  • Homeostasis Essay

    2004 Words  | 5 Pages

    Our body obtains the energy by digesting the carbohydrates into glucose. Volumes of glucose are required by the body to create ATP. ATP is short for 'Adenosine Triphosphate ' and is an energy carrier. When we consume too many carbohydrates our body produces a lot of glucose and as a result blood glucose levels rise and sometimes they may rise over the normal range of blood glucose concentration. To bring it back within the healthy range, the homeostatic system of blood glucose regulation is used. The blood flows through the pancreas where the beta cells, receptors, detect the high blood glucose level. To counteract this stimuli beta cells alert the control centre, which are also the beta cells located in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. The secretion of insulin has to be done quickly but can only be carried out when insulin gene is switched on. Turning on the insulin gene switch can take 30 minutes to an hour therefore, the production of insulin by beta cells are done in advance and are packaged in vesicles right until blood glucose rises. Glucose comes into the beta cell to trigger the vesicle that contains the insulin to move towards the plasma membrane and fuse. This releases the insulin into the bloodstream where they are distributed throughout the body and only affect specific target cells. The receptor, a protein, on the target cell’s plasma membrane recognises and connects

    Read More

  • The Pathophysiology of Diabetes Mellitus.

    1147 Words  | 3 Pages

    The pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus in is related to the insulin hormone. Insulin is secreted by cells in the pancreas and is responsible for regulating the level of glucose in the bloodstream. It also aids the body in breaking down the glucose to be used as energy. When someone suffers from diabetes, however, the body does not break down the glucose in the blood as a result of abnormal insulin metabolism. When there are elevated levels of glucose in the blood, it is known as hyperglycemia. If the levels continue to remain high over an extended period of time, damage can be done to the kidneys, cardiovascular systems; you can get eye disorders, or even cause nerve damage. When the glucose levels are low in one’s body, it is called hypoglycemia. A person begins to feel very jittery, and possibly dizzy. If that occurs over a period of time, the person can possibly faint. Diabetes mellitus occurs in three different forms - type 1, type 2, and gestational.

    Read More

  • The Anatomy Of The Pancreas

    946 Words  | 2 Pages

    The pancreas is composed of exocrine and endocrine tissues. The exocrine portion of the pancreas synthesizes and secretes pancreatic juices. The endocrine portion is composed of miniscule islands of cells, called the islets of Langerhans. These islets of Langerhans do not release their secretions into the pancreatic ducts. Instead, they release hormones into the blood stream, and these hormones in turn help control blood glucose levels (Function of the Pancreas). Beta cells of the islets of Langerhans secrete insulin, which

    Read More

  • Exploring the Dual Functions of the Pancreas

    760 Words  | 2 Pages

    The pancreas can be divided into two sections when studying the histology. The pancreas has exocrine and endocrine functions, each with unique cell types. The exocrine pancreas serves to secrete digestive enzymes into the duodenum. Some of the specific enzymes and secreted substances are Proteases, lipase, amylase, bicarbonate, and water (Bowen, “Exocrine Secretions”). These enzymes are used to break down protein, fat, and carbohydrates respectively. The bicarbonate simply act as an acid buffer to prevent damage of the small intestine as the stomach acid must be neutralized. The enzymes are created in acinar cells and the bicarbonate is synthesized in epithelial cells surrounding pancreatic ducts (Bowen “Exocrine

    Read More

  • Diabetes and Native Americans: A Cultural Epidemic

    989 Words  | 2 Pages

    Diabetes is a disease in which a person’s body in unable to make or utilize insulin properly which affects blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas, which helps to regulate glucose (sugar) levels, break down carbohydrates and fats, and is essential to produce the body’s energy. The CDC (2013) offers reliable insight, summarized here, into the different types of diabetes, some causes, and health complications that may arise from the disease.

    Read More

  • Diabetes Mellitus

    5673 Words  | 12 Pages

    Other hormones (glucagons, epinephrine, growth hormone, and cortisol) work to oppose the effects of insulin and are often referred to as counterregulatory hormones. These hormones work to increase blood glucose levels by stimulating glucose production and output by the liver and by decreasing the movement of glucose into the cells. Insulin and the these counterregulatory hormones provide a sustained but regulated release of glucose for energy during food intake and periods of fasting and usually maintain blood glucose levels within the normal range. An abnormal production of any or all of these hormones may be present in diabetes.

    Read More

  • Diabetes Mellitus

    2137 Words  | 5 Pages

    Diabetes refers to a set of several different diseases. It is a serious health problem throughout the world and fourth leading cause of death by disease in the country. All types of diabetes result in too much sugar, or glucos in the blood. To understand why this happens it would helpful if we understand how the body usually works. When we eat, our body breaks down the food into simpler forms such as glucose. The glucose goes into the bloodstream, where it then travels to all the cells in your body. The cells use the glucose for energy. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps move the glucose from bloodstream to the cells. The pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus further explains the concept on how this disease works. Pancreas plays an important role of the metabolism of glucose by means of secreting the hormones insulin and glucagon. These hormones where then secreted by Islets of Langerhans directly to the blood. Inadequate secretion of insulin results on impaired metabolism of glucose, carbohydrates, proteins and fats which then result to hyperglycemia and glycosuria. Hyperglycemia is the most frequently observed sign of diabetes and is considered the etiologic source of diabetic complications both in the body and in the eye. On the other hand, glucagon is the hormone that opposes the act of insulin. It is secreted when blood glucose levels fall.

    Read More

  • Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)

    2099 Words  | 5 Pages

    For people with no problems the intestines and stomach digest the carbohydrates that we take in into glucose, which is the body’s main source of energy. After we digest our food the glucose moves to the bloodstream. To get the glucose out of your blood and into the cells of your body the pancreas makes a hormone called insulin (Mayo Clinic, 2010). When you have gestational diabetes either your body does not make enough insulin during your pregna...

    Read More

  • The Pancreas

    852 Words  | 2 Pages

    The pancreas has two functions; to make enzymes that help digest fats and proteins and the other, to produce insulin that controls the blood sugar level called glucose. It consists of Islet cells (1 of 3 types), which are endocrine glands. This means the Islet cells secret the insulin directly into the blood stream. The pancreas contains many more of these Islet cells than the body needs to maintain a normal insulin level. Even when half of the pancreas is removed, the blood sugar level can still remain normal. The pancreas is also made up of exocrine glands, which produce enzymes for digestion.

    Read More

  • Glucose Homeostasis Essay

    1487 Words  | 3 Pages

    Blood glucose levels are the measurement of glucose in an individual’s blood. This is important because glucose is the body’s main source of fuel and the brains only source of fuel. Without energy from glucose the cells would die. Glucose homeostasis is primarily controlled in the liver, muscle, and fat where it stored as glycogen. The pancreas is also a significant organ that deals with glucose. The pancreas helps regulate blood glucose levels. Alpha-islet and beta-islet pancreatic cells measure blood glucose levels and they also regulate hormone release. Alpha cells produce glucagon and beta cells produce insulin. The body releases insulin in response to elevated blood glucose levels to allow the glucose inside of cells and

    Read More

  • Diabetes Essay

    2349 Words  | 5 Pages

    The pancreas, in addition to its digestive process has two important hormones, Insulin and Glucagon which are important for the maintenance of blood glucose level at a narrow range. Not only glucose, but also they are important for protein and lipid metabolism. Glucagon is secreted by the alpha cells of the islet of Langerhans and Insulin is secreted by the beta cells of Langerhans. Both are secreted to portal vein. (8)

    Read More

  • Pancreas Essay

    1638 Words  | 4 Pages

    The pancreas uses these two hormones in order to monitor blood glucose levels. After a meal, blood glucose usually rises. This is when insulin secretion will start (Nussey S, Whitehead S. “Endocrinology: An Integrated Approach”). Consequently, blood glucose decrease to the normal range. This is how insulin maintains blood levels when is high. However, when blood level falls below normal range, glucagon comes into play. Low blood glucose occurs usually when hungry and during exercise. This will then triggers glucagon secretion. When blood level falls, the body goes into imbalance. Hence is why in order to maintain homeostasis glucagon is crucial. The body will tell the pancreas to increase more glucose and the pancreas will secrete glucagon by taking glycogen from the liver to produce glucose. The glucose will produce energy and will make blood glucose concentration increase (Homeostasis of Insulin and Glucose, Abpischools.org). When the pancreas cannot maintain homeostasis, many problems will arise in the body. When the pancreas fails to produce insulin, type 1 and 2 diabetes can occur. For those with type 1 diabetes, insulin injections will be needed in order to regulate blood glucose level, otherwise, glucose levels will be out of control. For type 2 diabetes, they are not insulin dependent like type 1, however, the body does not create enough in the body. When blood glucose

    Read More

More about Essay On Pancreas

Open Document