In the human body each and every organ is doing an important function.  But most of the time people are not bothered about their internal organ health, until they are facing some issues in their body. So, people should know about their internal organ functions and health issues. In this article, we will see in depth about the internal organ pancreatic functions and pancreatic disorders. 

Structure of Pancreatic organ

The organ pancreas is located in the abdomen, ease at the rear of the stomach. The shape of the pancreas looks like a tadpole – fat at one end and slender at the other. The length of the pancreas is around 25 cm. The pancreas is divided into four parts. 

  1. Head.
  2. Neck. 
  3. Body.
  4. Tail. 
  • Head – The widest part of the pancreas is the head. The head part is found in the right side of the abdomen, hiding in the curve of the duodenum.
  • Neck – Very thin section of the gland between the head and the body of the pancreas is the neck part.
  • Body – Middle part of the pancreas is the body. It lies between the neck and the tail. 
  • Tail – Very thin tip of the pancreas is the tail. It is placed in the left side of the abdomen, in close proximity to the spleen.

Function of Pancreas

Pancreas play an excellent role in the human body. Mainly this organ doing dual roles. Pancreas do excellent functions to the digestive system and the hormonal endocrine system. 

First pancreas helps to do the digestion process very well. In the human body, once partially food is digested into the stomach, it will move into the first part of the small intestine (duodenum).  Pancreas just mix its own digestive juices and enzymes to the food, via a tiny duct attached to the duodenum. This process is called ‘exocrine pancreas’. 

The pancreas also secretes hormone insulin, which helps to balance the amount of sugar in the blood. This process is called ‘endocrine pancreas’. The endocrine pancreas also produces a hormone called glucagon, this hormone is also involved in balancing blood sugar level.

Symptoms of Pancreatic Disorders

When pancreas organs face health issues, they show symptoms in the early stage. 

  • Pain in the upper abdomen
  • Loss of appetite
  • Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
  • Back pain
  • Bloating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Digestive upsets
  • Passing foul-smelling and fatty faeces.

Pancreas Disorders

Diabetes

Around the world, more than half a billion people are suffering from diabetes. Lots of people are facing this health issue because of poor function of the pancreas. Lack of insulin secretion will affect the blood sugar level. Unbalanced blood sugar levels will lead people into diabetes. Diabetes can cause gastroparesis, it will slow down the motor function of the digestive system. Diabetes disorders also affect what happens after digestion. If a person doesn’t have enough insulin and he/she eats a meal high in carbohydrates, automatically blood sugar level can go up and cause symptoms like hunger and weight loss. Over the long term, this issue can lead to heart related issues and kidney disease among other problems.

Types of Diabetes

Pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer starts developing in the cells of the duct and spreads slowly into the body of the pancreas. Cancer cells also invaded the blood vessels and nerves. When a person delays treatment, this type of cancer will spread to every abdominal organ and to other parts of the body, through the lymphatic system. This pancreatic cancer a type of pancreatic disorders reveals some symptoms such as digestion problems, like loss of appetite, abdominal pain, fatty stools and weight loss issues. Health Experts still are unable to find the exact causes but risk factors may include:

  • Cigarette smoking for a long duration.
  • Chronic pancreatitis
  • Advancing age 65 years.

Acute pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas is one of the common Pancreatic Disorders, this condition is called Acute pancreatitis. This Acute pancreatitis condition is a medical emergency situation and needs quick treatment. When the pancreas suddenly becomes inflamed – the enzymes are unable to move from the pancreas and so cause irritation and burning sensation. Enzymes may also enter as Hirudinea into the abdominal cavity. 

Chronic pancreatitis: Recurring bouts of inflammation in the pancreas is called chronic pancreatitis. People who are drinking too much alcohol are at increased risk of developing this condition. The non-stop inflammation mainly damages partially or completely the parts of the pancreas, and decreases the function of the pancreas. This chronic pancreatitis reveals some symptoms include digestive upsets, passing fatty and foul-smelling stools.

Treatments for Pancreatic Disorders 

  • Acute pancreatitis – The acute pancreatitis patients should be hospitalized in intensive care, fasting and intravenous fluids, surgery to remove gallstones or damaged area of pancreas, changing the living lifestyle, such as quitting smoking and drinking alcohol habits.
  • Chronic pancreatitis – The chronic pancreatitis patients should be long-term treatment may include decreasing dietary fats, consuming supplementing digestion with pancreatic enzyme tablets, quitting alcohol habits, regularly taking insulin injections for reduced endocrine function.
  • Pancreatic cancer – Doing surgery to eliminate the cancer and associated tissue by radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment.
  • Diabetes – In some cases, diabetes disease can be easily dealt with and carefully controlled by following a strict diet. Consuming fiber rich food items will make the digestion and also keeps the blood sugar level under control. In others, people can also take regular anti-Diabetic medications and use injections of insulin. 
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