They then can release hormones directly into the blood when necessary. In particular, they sense when sugar glucose levels in the blood rise, and as soon as this happens the cells produce hormones, particularly insulin.
Insulin then helps the body to lower blood glucose levels and 'store' the sugar away in fat , muscle, liver and other body tissues where it can be used for energy when required.
The pancreas is very close to the stomach. As soon as food is eaten, the pancreas releases digestive enzymes into the bowel to break food down.
As the food is digested, and nutrient levels in the blood rise, the pancreas produces insulin to help the body store the glucose energy away. Between meals, the pancreas does not produce insulin and this allows the body to gradually release stores of energy back into the blood as they are needed.
Glucose levels remain very stable in the blood at all times to ensure that the body has a steady supply of energy. This energy is needed for metabolism , exercise and, in particular, to fuel the parts of the brain that 'run' on glucose. This makes sure that the body doesn't starve between meals. The most important hormone that the pancreas produces is insulin.
Insulin is released by the 'beta cells' in the islets of Langerhans in response to food. Its role is to lower glucose levels in the bloodstream and promote the storage of glucose in fat, muscle, liver and other body tissues. This has the opposite effect to insulin, by helping release energy into the bloodstream from where it is stored, thus raising blood sugar levels. Therefore, glucagon and insulin work in tandem to control the balance of glucose in the bloodstream.
Other hormones produced by the pancreas include pancreatic polypeptide and somatostatin. They are believed to play a part in regulating and fine-tuning the insulin and glucagon-producing cells. Pancreatic islets house three major cell types, each of which produces a different endocrine product:.
Interestingly, the different cell types within an islet are not randomly distributed - beta cells occupy the central portion of the islet and are surrounded by a "rind" of alpha and delta cells.
Aside from the insulin, glucagon and somatostatin, a number of other "minor" hormones have been identified as products of pancreatic islets cells. Islets are richly vascularized, allowing their secreted hormones ready access to the circulation. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent.
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