Accessory Organs

Gland
: a bodily structure that secretes hormones (e.g. adrenal gland, thyroid, ovaries, testes, etc.)

Hormone
: a substance made by glands, controls the actions of cells and organs, circulates in the bloodstream (e.g. insulin, glucagon, estrogen, etc.)

Organ
: a group of self-contained tissues that have a specific and vital function (e.g. lungs, stomach, etc.)

Organ System
: a group of organs that work together to perform one or more functions in the body (e.g. circulatory system, respiratory system, etc.)

Endocrine System
: hormones/chemicals secreted into the bloodstream

Exocrine System
: hormones/chemicals secreted into organs

Pancreas

  • Functions

    • create digestive enzymes

    • create hormones

    • neutralize pH

  • Structure

    • yellowish, “corn on the cob”

    • 3 parts

      • head (nearest to duodenum)

      • body (largest section)

      • tail

    • pancreatic duct

      • connects to the common bile duct and leads to duodenum

    • Islets of Langerhans

      • creates hormones (insulin and glucagon)

    • acinar and duct cells

      • creates bicarbonate and digestive enzymes (protease, amylase, lipase)

  • Location

    • head of pancreas fits into curve of duodenum

    • hides below the stomach, on the left of the duodenum

  • Endocrine System

    • secretes insulin and glucagon to control blood glucose levels

      • beta cells create insulin

      • alpha cells create glucagon

  • Insulin
    : a hormone released into the bloodstream when blood glucose levels are high

    • Function

      • acts as an “UberEats” to carry glucose from the bloodstream to body cells for energy

        • lowers blood glucose levels

      • signals the storage of excess glucose as glycogen in the liver

    • Importance

      • without insulin, the bloodstream becomes clogged with glucose

        • results in diabetes, blindness, etc.

      • without insulin, the body thinks it’s dying because cells are not delivered glucose (energy)

  • Glucagon
    : a hormone released into the bloodstream when blood glucose levels are low

    • Function

      • signals the liver to break down glycogen cells into glucose and secrete it into the bloodstream

    • Importance

      • low levels of blood glucose in the blood leads to fainting

      • the release of glucose allows the body cells to gain energy when we cannot eat

  • Exocrine System

    • acinar and duct cells create bicarbonate and digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, protease)

      • flows through the pancreatic duct into the common bile duct into the duodenum

    • bicarbonate

      • neutralizes acidic chyme

    • amylase

      • enzyme that chemically breaks down carbohydrates

    • lipase

      • enzyme that chemically breast down fats

    • protease

      • enzyme that chemically breaks down proteins

Liver

  • Functions

    • Bile drainage

      • secretes “watered-down dish soap” version of bile into the common bile duct to the duodenum or gallbladder

    • Detoxification

      • gets rid of environmental toxins by dumping them into bile, which is eventually eliminated in feces

    • Blood glucose regulation

      • stores or breaks down glycogen cells into the bloodstream as glucose based on blood glucose levels

    • Hormone regulation

      • creates and breaks down hormones needed to create other hormones (e.g. cholesterol into estrogen)

    • Blood circulation and filtration

      • processes food, alcohol, nutrients, drugs, and anything that enters the bloodstream

    • Synthesis and storage of nutrients

      • amino acids, protein, minerals, fats

    • Manufacture

      • creates and processes hundreds of chemicals and enzymes

  • Structure

    • largest organ and the largest gland

    • right lobe (largest) and left lobe

    • 4 pounds

    • reddish-brown, triangular shape

    • connected to 2 large bloodstreams

      • hepatic artery (carries oxygenated blood)

      • hepatic (portal) vein (carries deoxygenated blood)

  • Location

    • just below the diaphragm, right of the stomach

    • upper-right quadrant of the abdominal cavity

Bile
: a yellow-green substance made by the liver

  • Function

    • neutralizes acidic chyme due to its high concentration of bicarbonates

    • emulsifiers fats into smaller fat molecules, allowing lipase to break it down

    • allows lipase to have a greater surface area in the digestive system to break down fats

  • Contents

    • biles salts

    • cholesterol

    • lecithin

Gallbladder

  • Function

    • store and concentrate bile into a “concentrated dish soap” version

    • release small drops of bile into the common bile duct during digestion to further emulsify fats in chyme

  • Structure

    • pear-shaped sac

    • hollow

  • Location

    • bottom of the liver

    • liver overlaps it

    • right side of the abdomen

  • No gallbladder?

    • the body cannot fully digest fats

      • ox supplements must be taken

      • diarrhea or floating feces

  • Diseases

    • directly caused by diet

    • Cholecystitis
      : inflammation of the bladder

    • Gallstones
      : crystallized bile

      • Cholecystectomy
        : surgical removal of the gallbladder

Preventing Gallstones

  • Stop drinking decaf drinks and drink more water

    • decaf drinks cases gallbladder contractions

  • Increase bowel transit time by eating high fibre food

    • allows gallbladder to secrete bile without reabsorption in ducts

  • Drink milk thistle

    • tones gallbladder, spleen, and liver

    • detoxifies liver

  • Regulate low HCl

    • low HCl levels leads to less acidic chyme

      • results in the gallbladder releasing less bile, causing build up and crystallization

  • Avoid food sensitivities

    • food sensitivities irritate the gallbladder