The pancreas is an abdominal organ that is located behind the stomach and is surrounded by other organs, including the spleen, liver and small intestine. It is about 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) long, oblong and flat. It plays an important role in digestion and in the regulation of blood sugar levels in the body.
The pancreas has two functional components
The bulk of the pancreas is composed of “exocrine” cells that produce juices to help with the digestion of food. These exocrine cells release their juices into the duodenum, the first part of the small bowel.
The second functional component of the pancreas is the "endocrine" pancreas. It is composed of small islands of cells, called the islets of Langerhans. These endocrine cells release hormones, such as insulin and glucagon, into the blood stream, and these hormones help in regulating blood sugar (glucose) levels.
During digestion, food is broken down into basic components. Carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars, primarily glucose, which is a critically important source of energy for the body's cells. For this, glucose needs to leave the blood and get inside the cells.
Insulin, produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, travels in the blood and signals the cells to take up glucose. This process is directly proportional to the body’s glucose (sugar) levels. When levels of glucose in the blood rises (for example, after a meal), the pancreas produces more insulin
Insulin is one of the most important hormone required by the human body. When the pancreas cannot make or effectively use its own insulin than abnormally high levels of blood sugar are seen. This condition is known as diabetes mellitus.
