What Is the Pancreas?
What is the pancreas?
When it comes to anatomy, the pancreas is not one of those organs that
takes center stage. However, the small pear-shaped, spongy organ, which
resides next to the stomach and intestine, does its fair share of pumping
hormones and enzymes that help us digest food.
What does the pancreas do?
The pancreas has two jobs:
- The pancreas makes enzymes that are sent into your intestines to help break down fats and other food.
- The pancreas produces insulin, which controls the level of sugar in the blood. Lack of insulin causes diabetes.
The pancreas is in contact with very important veins and arteries as well as other organs. All of these have to be considered when operating on the pancreas.
Contact the Pancreatic Cancer Program at Methodist Dallas
For more information about pancreatic cancer treatment options and pancreatic
cancer resources at Methodist Dallas Medical Center,
call
(214) 933-6601
Information contained on these pages has been gathered from independent
sources and is for informational use only. It is not intended to be a
substitute for medical advice and information provided by your health
care provider. Any decision you make regarding your health care options
should be made after consulting a qualified physician.
Sources:
American Cancer Society
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Staywell Health Library