Is the pancreas more important in the endocrine or digestive system?

Answer 1

This is a good question, but let's define "important" as "necessary for organismal survival". In this case, both are EQUALLY important. The endocrine function of the pancreas is to secrete insulin and glucagon which help to lower and raise the blood sugar levels, respectively. Blood sugar level homeostasis is necessary for human survival. On the other hand, the exocrine pancreas secretes trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, carboxypeptidase, pancreatic lipase, pancreatic amylase, and other substances which aid in the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Obviously, this is a function which is also necessary to human survival. You simply can not live with only one of these pancreatic functions operational and so it appears that neither function takes precedence over the other. Again, very thoughtful and insightful question!

Answer 2

good question the pancreas is used in both systems as you know but i think it is equally important in both systems if you look at what it does because without both systems we could not function and the pancreas plays a key role in both so my answer is that it is not more important