The Pancreas
The PANCREAS is a large gland behind the stomach that secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum. The duodenum is where the stomach turns into the small intestine.
Embedded in the pancreas are the islets of Langerhans, which secrete into the blood the hormones insulin and glucagon. Insulin controls the amount of sugar in your blood. Glucagon increases the sugar in your blood and insulin lowers the sugar in your blood. Think of glucose (sugar) as the fuel that your cells need - like gasoline to an engine. Too much or too little fuel and the car wont run! Glucose is stored in the liver. Diabetes: There are two types of diabetes; Type I and Type II. Type I: The Pancreas does not produce enough INSULIN to regulate the sugar in the blood. Type II: The cells fail to respond to the insulin produced by the pancreas. Insulin resistance occurs. The SPLEENThe spleen is a fist-sized organ found in the upper left side of your abdomen, next to your stomach and behind your left ribs.
The spleen plays multiple supporting roles in the body. It acts as a filter for blood as part of the immune system. Old red blood cells are recycled in the spleen, and platelets and white blood cells are stored there. The spleen also helps fight certain kinds of bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis. It's an important part of your immune system but you can survive without it. This is because the liver can take over many of the spleen's functions. A splenectomy is an operation that removes the spleen. |
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