VerBerkmoes 1

Clayton VerBerkmoes
David Matlack
Physiology Lab P215
7 March 2015
Paper #1: Normal Physiology of the Pancreas
As humans, we rely on food to provide us with sufficient energy.
However, without a proper functioning pancreas we would cease to acquire
the energy within food. Located directly behind the stomach, the pancreas
is a mixed glandular organ involved in two important systems of the body:
the endocrine and digestive systems with its functions being proper
secretion of pancreatic juices and systematic hormone releases of insulin
and glucagon, respectively.
When a person eats, the food descends down the GI Tract. One major
stop is the first part of the small intestine called the duodenum. The walls of
duodenum detect the high acidity of gastric juice mixed with proteins, fats,
and vitamins and causes two hormones to be secreted: secretin and
cholecystokinin. Both interact with the pancreas, telling it to release its
pancreatic juices. Eighty percent of the pancreas is composed of exocrine
tissue, which is in charge of synthesizing and secreting pancreatic juices.
The pancreatic juices contain a high concentration of bicarbonate which,
upon its secretion, will interact with the highly acidic gastric juice,
neutralizing it. It also has a high density of digestive enzymes which interact
and break down proteins (trypsin and chymotrypsin), carbohydrates
(amylase), and fats (lipase) in the duodenum.

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Although only 2% of the pancreas is composed of endocrine tissue, it

plays a vital role in glucose metabolism. The endocrine tissue of the
pancreas is composed of many cell clusters known as islets of Langerhans
which secrete their contents directly to the blood stream. Each islet is
composed of many types of cells, the most common being alpha and beta
cells. Both play critical role in regulating glycaemia (the amount of glucose
in the blood). Alpha cells synthesis and secrete a hormone called glucagon.
Glucagon has a catabolic effect, primarily targeting the liver and activating
glycogenolysis (the breakdown of glycogen into its basic component
glucose). Thus, the glucose levels of the blood increase. If a person werent
to eat for six hours, glucagon secretion would occur so as to give the person
a dose of energy.
Beta cells synthesize and secrete a hormone called insulin which has
an anabolic effect. The secretion of insulin promotes the absorption of
glucose by muscle and adipose tissue, the storage of fat, and the process of
neoglycogenesis (the process building glycogen storage from glucose). The
most important aspect of insulin is that it acts as a key to GLUT4
transporters which lie in the cell membrane. Insulin allows the GLUT4 to
open and intake glucose. Upon entering the cell, glucose undergoes
oxidative phosphorylation, creating ATP. This causes the blood glucose
levels to decrease. Upon eating, a large amount of glucose enters the body.
Therefore a person who just ate would secrete insulin to lower their blood
glucose levels and allow glucose to enter the cells.

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In conclusion, the pancreas plays an important role in both digestion

and glucose metabolism. It is in charge of the secretion of pancreatic juices
which contains a high bicarbonate and digestive enzyme concentration level
in order to neutralize the acidity of the gastric juices and break down
important nutrients, respectively. As for glucose metabolism, the pancreas
secretes insulin and glucagon based on certain conditions of the body.
Whereas insulin lowers the blood glucose level and allow cells to intake
glucose so as to convert it into energy, glucagon will cause the glucose
blood levels to increase by promoting the breakdown of stored glycogen. It
is important to note that certain people have Beta cells which do not
synthesize insulin and have problems regulating blood glucose levels. This
symptom is diagnosed as Diabetes Mellitus Type I.

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Works Cited
Quesada, I., Tudur, E., Ripoll, C., & Nadal, . (2008). Physiology of the
pancreatic alpha-cell and glucagon secretion: Role in glucose homeostasis
and diabetes. Journal of Endocrinology, 199, 5-19. Retrieved March 4, 2015,
from http://joe.endocrinology-journals.org/content/199/1/5.long
Sastre, J., Sabater, L., & Aparisi, L. (2005). Fisiologa de la secrecin
pancretica.Gastroenterologa Y Hepatologa, 28(2), 3-9. Retrieved March 4,
2015, from http://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-gastroenterologia-hepatologia14-articulo-fisiologia-secrecion-pancreatica13071380#elsevierItemBibliografias
The Pancreas & Diabetes Mellitus. (2013). In An Introduction to Human
Disease Pathology and Pathophysiology Correlations: Indiana University
M485 (1st ed., Vol. 1, pp. 159-161). Burlington, MA: World Headquarters.