Why do we have a pancreas?? What is the pancreas for??

Question

All i know the most important organs we have to have is the heart, liver, and the kidneys......well you can live with one kidney though.

Answer 1

The Pancreas is pretty darned important. Without a properly functioning pancreas you get diabetes.

The pancreas is an organ in the digestive and endocrine system that serves two major functions: exocrine (producing pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes) and endocrine (producing several important hormones, including insulin)

Answer 2

The pancreas is needed to produce insulin. It also produces digestive enymes but the production of insulin is most important. You will need insulin shots when the pancreas does not function properly. That would really suck!

Answer 3

The pancreas is an organ important in digestion and blood sugar regulation. It is considered to be part of the gastrointestinal system. The pancreas produces digestive enzymes to be released into the small intestine to aid in reducing food particles to basic elements that can be absorbed by the intestine and used by the body. It has another very different function in that it forms insulin, glucagon and other hormones to be sent into the bloodstream to regulate blood sugar levels and other activities throughout the body.

The pancreas is a pear-shaped organ about 6 in (15 cm) long located in the middle and back portion of the abdomen. It is connected to the first part of the small intestine, the duodenum, and lies behind the stomach. The pancreas is made up of glandular tissue, or cells that form substances to be secreted outside of the organ. Glandular tissues can be categorized as endocrine (secreting directly into the bloodstream or lymph) or exocrine (secreting into another organ). The pancreas is both an exocrine and an endocrine organ.

Exocrine secretions
The digestive juices produced by the pancreas are secreted into the duodenum via a Y-shaped duct, at the point where the common bile duct from the liver and the pancreatic duct join just before entering the duodenum. In this way, a variety of digestive enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, and amylase, among others) are delivered into the small intestine to aid in the digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The enzymes are delivered in an inactive form called zymogens. The zymogens are activated by the chemical substances in the small intestine. The digestive enzymes carried into the duodenum are representative of the exocrine function of the pancreas, in which specific substances are made to be passed directly into another organ.

Endocrine secretions
The pancreas is unusual among the body's glands in that it also has a very important endocrine function. Small groups of special cells called islet cells throughout the organ make such hormones as insulin and glucagon, which are critical in regulating blood sugar levels; and vasoactive intestinal peptide, which influences gastrointestinal activity. These hormones are secreted directly into the bloodstream to affect organs all over the body. No organ except the pancreas makes significant amounts of insulin or glucagon, but other tissues do produce vasoactive intestinal peptide. Insulin acts to lower blood sugar levels by allowing the sugar to flow into cells. Glucagon acts to raise blood sugar levels by causing glucose to be released into the circulation from its storage sites. Insulin and glucagon act in an opposite but balanced fashion to keep blood sugar levels stable.

A normal pancreas is important for maintaining good health, preventing malnutrition, and maintaining normal levels of blood sugar. The digestive tract needs the help of the enzymes produced by the pancreas to reduce food particles to their simplest elements, or the nutrients cannot be absorbed. Carbohydrates must be broken down into individual sugar molecules. Proteins must be reduced to simple amino acids. Fats must be broken down into fatty acids. The pancreatic enzymes are important in all these transformations. The basic particles can then easily be transported into the cells that line the intestine, and from there they can be further altered and transported to different tissues in the body as fuel sources and construction materials.

Similarly, the body cannot maintain normal blood sugar levels without the balanced action of insulin and glucagon. Both hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) cause symptoms and serious health problems.

Answer 4

The pancreas produces insulin which is required to regulate sugar levels in the blood. Every carbohydrate that you consume will eventually become blood sugar. It is very important to you total metabolism.

Answer 5

The pancreas manufactures the hormone insulin, which allows our body to metabolize sugar, affects fat metabolism, and controls blood glucose levels.

It also produces several enzymes used in fat and protein digestion.

Answer 6

verry good question....The pancreas is a glandular organ that secretes digestive enzymes (internal secretions) and hormones (external secretions). In humans, the pancreas is a yellowish organ about 7 inches (17.8 cm) long and 1.5 inches. (3.8 cm) wide.........if your having problems with it get help emediatly my grandfather almost died

Answer 7

digestive juices flow to the intestine from it.
also, insulin is made there, keeping everyone from being diabetic.

Answer 8

for insulin production