Pancreas
Pancreas Doctor In Dhantoli, Nagpur, MH
Dr. Manish Upwanshi is the Best Pancreas Doctor in Nagpur Maharashtra. The pancreas is a gland, about six inches long, located in the abdomen. It is shaped like a flat pear and is surrounded by the stomach, small intestine, liver, spleen and gallbladder. The wide end of the pancreas on the right side of the body is called the head. The middle sections are the neck and body. The thin end of the pancreas on the left side of the body is called the tail.
What is the pancreas?
The pancreas is an organ in the back of your abdomen (belly). It is part of your digestive system.
The pancreas is an organ and a gland. Glands are organs that produce and release substances in the body.
The pancreas performs two main functions:
- Exocrine function: Produces substances (enzymes) that help with digestion.
- Endocrine function: Sends out hormones that control the amount of sugar in your bloodstream.
What does your pancreas do?
An exocrine gland runs the length of your pancreas. It produces enzymes that help to break down food (digestion). Your pancreas releases the following enzymes:
- Lipase: Works with bile (a fluid produced by the liver) to break down fats.
- Amylase: Breaks down carbohydrates for energy.
- Protease: Breaks down proteins.
When food enters your stomach:
- Your pancreas releases the pancreatic enzymes into small ducts (tubes) that flow into the main pancreatic duct.
- Your main pancreatic duct connects with your bile duct. This duct transports bile from your liver to your gallbladder.
- From the gallbladder, the bile travels to part of your small intestine called the duodenum.
- Both the bile and the pancreatic enzymes enter your duodenum to break down food.
What are the parts of the pancreas?
The pancreas anatomy includes:
- Head: The wider part of the pancreas that sits in the curve of your duodenum.
- Neck: The short part of the pancreas extending from the head.
- Body: The middle part of the pancreas between the head and neck, which extends upward.
- Tail: The thinnest part of the pancreas, located near your spleen.
What conditions and disorders can affect the pancreas?
The following disorders can affect the pancreas:
- Type 1 diabetes: Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce insulin.
- Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body makes insulin but doesn’t use it correctly.
- Hyperglycemia: Hyperglycemia happens when your body produces too much glucagon. This results in high blood sugar levels.
- Hypoglycemia: Hypoglycemia occurs when your body produces too much insulin. It causes low blood sugar levels.
- Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis happens when enzymes start to work in the pancreas before they reach the duodenum. It may result from gallstones or excessive alcohol. Pancreatitis can be temporary or long-lasting (chronic).
- Pancreatic cancer: Cancerous cells in the pancreas cause pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer can be difficult to detect and treat.
When should I call a healthcare provider about my pancreas?
If you have symptoms that don’t go away or keep coming back, you should talk to a healthcare provider. Signs of pancreas problems may include:
- Belly or back pain.
- Blurry vision.
- Dark urine or light-colored, greasy stools.
- Exhaustion without an obvious cause.
- Extreme thirst or frequent urination.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Tingling in your hands or feet.
- Weight loss without a change in diet or exercise.
- Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice).