Pancreas

The pancreas is a pinkish-gray organ located behind the stomach. It extends from the duodenum to the spleen.

It can be divided into a broad head located within the duodenum loop, a slender body, and a short, rounded tail.

The pancreas is categorized into the exocrine and endocrine parts.

The exocrine part has ducts ending in acini that produce pancreatic juice.

These cells are packed with rough endoplasmic reticulum and zymogen granules that store inactive digestive enzymes.

The large pancreatic duct and small accessory duct deliver the pancreatic juice to the duodenum.

The pancreatic duct meets the bile duct, both emptying into the duodenal ampulla.

At the mouth of the ampulla, the sphincter of the hepatopancreatic ampulla or sphincter of Oddi regulates the passage of pancreatic juice and bile.

In contrast, the accessory duct opens directly into the duodenum, bypassing the ampulla.

The endocrine part of the pancreas consists of mini-endocrine glands called pancreatic islets, or islets of Langerhans, which secrete hormones like insulin and glucagon.