Anton Bilchik Reviews the Important Role of the Pancreas

As a leading pancreatic cancer surgeon, Anton Bilchik MD passionately shares his knowledge about the sometimes mysterious – but always impressive – pancreas. The pancreas is a glandular organ that hides beneath your stomach; it connects to your small intestine. In humans, this organ is yellowish in color and measures about 7” long and 1.5” wide. Your pancreas has two important missions, each with its own specific name: exocrine and endocrine.

What does the pancreas do?

The exocrine function of the pancreas is to produce pancreatic juices, including digestive enzymes. The pancreas and the enzymes it secretes help digest food and break down starches, protein and fat. Pancreatic juices also neutralize chyme — a thick, semi-solid mass of undigested food passed from the stomach to the small intestine.  Without the exocrine function of the pancreas, your body would be unable to break down the food you need, and you might lose a significant amount of weight.

The pancreas’s endocrine function is to secrete two hormones, insulin and glucagon, directly into the bloodstream. Together, these two hormones regulate your blood sugar. Insulin lowers your blood sugar, and glucagon raises your blood sugar level, if it happens to fall too low. If the endocrine cells of the pancreas do not function properly, diabetes occurs.

In addition to diabetes malfunctioning of the pancreas can occur in cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder in which thick, sticky mucus can block the ducts in the pancreas; and pancreatic cancer. Contact Anton Bilchik with any questions you may have about pancreatic cancer.