Pancreas+&+Gall+Bladder

= Pancreas and Gall Bladder: = = = The gallbladder is located behind the liver on the right side of the rib cage. It hits up against the under surface of the liver. In adults, the gallbladder measures approximately 8 centimeters in length and 4 centimeters in diameter when fully expanded. It is divided into three sections the fundus, body and neck.
 * __ Gall Bladder __**
 * LOCATION OF THE GALL BLADDER**



The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped muscular sack that acts as a storage tank for bile. The bile is made in the liver by liver cells and is sent through tiny ducts or canals to the duodenum and then to the gallbladder. The gallbladder stores the bile to have it available in larger quantities for secretion when a meal is eaten. The ingestion of food and especially fats cause the release of a hormone, cholec ystokinin, (CCK) which in turn signals the relaxation of the valve at the end of the common bile duct which lets the bile enter the small intestine. It also signals the contraction of the gallbladder which squirts the concentrated liquid bile into the small intestine where it helps with the emulsification or breakdown of fats in the meal.
 * FUNCTION OF THE GALL BLADDER**

Reference: Unknown author, 2007, gallbladderattack.com

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 * LINKS TO OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION (E.G. VIDEO FOOTAGE OR WEBSITES)**
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 * __ Animation links: __**

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 * __ Combined Animations: __**
 * Build a digestive system: **

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 * Biology: Nutrition and Digestion **

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The pancreas can be found along the posterior (towards the back) wall of the abdominal cavity against the stomach. It starts near the duodenum and finishes near the spleen. It is a soft organ that’s formed by lobes, it’s measured to about 2.5 cm by 15 cm. The pancreas gets blood from the splenic artery, a branch of the celiac artery.
 * __ The Pancreas __**
 * Location and Function **

The pancreas is responsible for secreting the hormones that regulate and control blood sugar levels. The hormones secreted by the pancreas are crucial to maintaining homeostasis in the human body. The two types of hormones are called glucagon and insulin. This makes the pancreas a part of both the endocrine glandular system and the exocrine glandular system. The exocrine functions depend on the pancreatic juices, they are found within the pancreas, and they are transported to the pancreatic duct and they travel from there to the duodenum.

The hormones are produced by islets, called islets of Langherhans, which are found all over the pancreas. These islets are scattered all over the body and the tail of the pancreas. They are filled with Alpha and Beta cells which are the reasons why hormones are secreted. The Alpha cells produce glucagon, and the Beta cells secrete insulin. Glucagon impacts on insulin because it encourages the liver to convert glycogen into sugar or glucose. The insulin-producing Alpha cells track the response and monitor the amount of sugar in the bloodstream; too much glucagon can result in hypoglycaemia or high blood sugar. The insulin affects the human body in a way that is directly contradictory to glucagon; insulin decreases the blood sugar level.

Insulin conducts the initial entrance of glucose to the cell membranes, this action by glucose is largely important to the muscular cells. Insulin also helps with the conversion of glucose into glycogen in the liver. This gives way to the absorption of amino acids into the cells and this follows into the formation of proteins and fats. Insufficient production of insulin by the Beta cells can trigger the onset of diseases such as diabetes.

The exocrine units used for secretion are found in the pancreatic lobules, these units are also referred to as the pancreatic islet cells (or the endocrine secretion units) are found next to the exocrine units. The acini are known to produce pancreatic juice, and each acinus contains one layer of epithelial acinar cells. http://diabetes.emedtv.com/diabetes-video/what-does-the-pancreas-do-video.html http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072495855/student_view0/chapter26/simple_multiple_choice.html
 * Really straightforward video, really good visuals: **
 * Good website page for an overall quiz of the digestive system: **

1) Where is the gall bladder located?
 * __ REVISION QUESTIONS __**

2) What is the size of the gall bladder?

3) What is the gall bladder’s function in the digestive tract?

4) How does the bile from the gall bladder enter the small intestine?

5) What is the function of the bile?

6) How would you describe the pancreas and its located?

7) What is the pancreas made up of?

8) what is the function of exocrine tissue?

9) What is the major role of the pancreas?

10) True or False? Insulin can be the cause of high blood sugar levels?


 * __ Answers __**

A1) The gallbladder is located behind the liver on the right side of the rib cage. It hits up against the under surface of the liver

A2) In adults, the gallbladder measures approximately 8 centimeters in length and 4 centimeters in diameter when fully expanded.

A3) The Gall bladder acts as a storage tank for bile. The bile is made in the liver by liver cells and is sent through tiny ducts or canals to the duodenum and then to the gallbladder. The gallbladder stores the bile to have it available in larger quantities for secretion when a meal is eaten.

A4) The ingestion of food and especially fats cause the release of a hormone, cholecystokinin, (CCK) which in turn signals the relaxation of the valve at the end of the common bile duct which lets the bile enter the small intestine. It also signals the contraction of the gallbladder which squirts the concentrated liquid bile into the small intestine.

A5) Bile is secreted into the small intestine where it helps with the emulsification or breakdown of fats in the meal.

A6) the pancreas is a large, some what carrot shaped gland which lies just below your stomach. It is positioned along the posterior (towards the back) wall of the abdominal cavity. The larger end is on the right, tucking into the gut and the tail end is on the left, touching your spleen.

A7) The pancreas is made from a substance called exocrine tissue, embedded with hundreds of nests of hormones glands called the islets of Langerhans.

A8) The exocrine tissue secretes (releases) pancreatic enzymes.

A9) The pancreas is responsible for secreting the hormones that regulate and control blood sugar levels. The hormones secreted by the pancreas are crucial to maintaining homeostasis in the human body. The two types of hormones are called glucagon and insulin.

A10) The answer is false. Excess glucagon is the cause of high blood sugar levels, and insulin-producing Alpha cells are the ones that track and monitor the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. Insulin acts in the opposite way to glucagon, meaning it is secreted in order to decrease the blood sugar level.