Which Side of the Pancreas is More Functional?

What does the Left mean when it comes to the pancreas? The Left is the part of the pancreas that produces insulin, while the right is the part that makes digestive juices. The pancreas is six inches long and is surrounded by the small intestine, liver, spleen, and gallbladder. It is also located within the abdomen. This article will discuss which side of the pancreas is more functional and where these body parts are located.

Left

The pancreas is a 6-inch long accessory digestive gland that lies transversely in the upper abdomen. Its head is on the right side, close to the duodenum, and its tail extends to the left side of the body. The pancreas is divided into two parts: an exocrine portion called the head lies on the vena cava and the renal vein, and an endocrine piece called the tail lies next to the spleen. The pancreas comprises two types of tissues, exocrine and endocrine, which function as an integral part of the digestive system.

Endocrine

The endocrine side of the pancreas contains small bundles of cells known as islets of Langerhans. Each islet has numerous capillaries that carry hormones from the pancreas to the rest of the body. The beta and alpha cells produce insulin and glucagon, respectively. They secrete these hormones to help the body break down food. In addition, these hormones regulate blood glucose levels and handle many other aspects of the human body.

Exocrine

The exocrine pancreas secretes enzymes that aid in the digestion of food and allows the intestinal epithelium to process these components. Without this organ, the resulting malabsorption leads to malnutrition. In this article, we will discuss how the exocrine pancreas functions. Read on to learn more about the organ's role and importance in our health. We can all benefit from having an exocrine pancreas.

Immune system

The immune system protects the body from foreign materials and pathogens. Tumors are abnormal cells with aberrant expression profiles. As such, the immune system should recognize tumor cells as non-self and destroy them. However, the development of pancreatic cancer triggers an immunosuppressive environment, which effectively thwarts the immune response. Immunocytochemistry can demonstrate the progression of pancreas disease over time.

Digestive system

One of the organs in the digestive system is the pancreas. The pancreas produces digestive enzymes, which are supposed to be released from the body through the small intestine. The problem comes when the digestive enzymes fail to do their job correctly and attack the pancreas. This causes inflammation, pain, and swelling in the pancreas. Severe cases of pancreatitis may even result in multisystem organ failure.