Pancreas and Digestive System Structures

Pancreas

• The pancreas might seem like a solid organ similar to the liver but is more diffuse.
• Unlike the liver with four solid lobes held together by connective tissue, the pancreas has many lobules.

Acinar Cells and Digestive Enzymes

• The pancreas contains acinar cells, which produce digestive enzymes.

Pancreatic Juice and Bicarbonate

• Epithelial cells of the pancreatic ducts secrete compounds into the pancreatic juice, mainly bicarbonate.

Neutralizing Acid in the Duodenum

• The duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, receives acidic chyme from the stomach.
• The digestive tract, beyond the duodenum, requires a neutral environment; thus, the acid needs neutralization.
• Bicarbonate, produced by the duct cells, is mixed into the pancreatic juice.
• This pancreatic juice is deposited into the duodenum to raise the pH to a more neutral level.

Histology of the Pancreas

• In histology, islets of Langerhans are surrounded by a sea of darker, purplish acinar cells.
• Acinar cells stain dark purple because they synthesize many proteins.