Pancreas...

[VeenaandNivyah]

Hi
I've a doubt... is the pancreas an exocrine organ or an endocrine. I mean, it digests all 3 classes of food and also secretes insulin, so which does it belong to?
Thanx in advance.
VeenaandNivyah

[victor]

I think, if you mean like that, it can be both...other example is like ventriculus which excretes its HCl-ed-mucus (exocrine) and secretes Gastrine (endocrine).

[MrMistery]

The pancreas, along with the gonads(tests and ovaries) are named dual glands, because they have both an exocrine and and endocrine function.
The endocrine function of the pancreas constituts only 1-2% of it's mass, and it is grouped into ~1 milion small spherical secreting bodies called the Langerhans Isles. Despite this fact, the pancreas secrets several important hormones:
A cells - glucagon
B cells - insulin
D cells - somatostatine
F cells - the pancreatic polipeptide(i have no idea what it does..)

[cardiorrhexis]

Hi
I mean, it digests all 3 classes of food and also secretes insulin, so which does it belong to?

I teach the pancreas in both the digestive system and the endocrine system because it's a dual purpose organ....

[Poison]

A cells - glucagon
B cells - insulin
D cells - somatostatine
F cells - the pancreatic polipeptide

We learned F cells as PP. They are the same I guess.

[MrMistery]

they are called F and produce the PP.
By the way, does anyone know what the pancreatic polipeptide actually does? Cause my books say it is there, but no function

[Poison]

I know they produce PP but they said that they are called PP cells. Whatever.

About the function of pancreatic polypeptide, it is still unknown.