Exocrine Pancreas

Exocrine Pancreas

Describe exocrine function of pancreas how are they regulated.
Answer:

Pancreas:

• The pancreas is a double function organ containing both exocrine’ as well as `endocrine’ cells.
• The endocrine function involves the production of the hormones.
• The exocrine function involves the secretion of digestive juice pancreatic juice.
• This pancreatic juice is discharged from apices of the cells into the lumen of the pancreatic ducts.
• The pancreatic juice passes via intercalated and excretory ducts to be collected by two ducts: `duct of Wirsung’ and duct of santorini’.
• The cells of the duct contains zymogen granules, which possess digestive enzymes.

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Pancreas Regulation:

1. Pancreas Nervous regulation:

• Reflex stimulation of vagus nerve causes increase in pancreatic juice secretion.
• This is seen with.
  1. Conditioned reflexes,
     Example: sight, smell of food.
  2. Unconditioned reflexes.
     Example: taste of food.
• The afferent impulses during these reflexes reach the dorsal nucleus of vagus.
• From here, the efferent impulses reach the pancreas via efferent fibers of vagus nerve.
• This results in release of acetylcholine which stimulates the acinar cells of pancreas to release the enzymes.

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2. Pancreas Humoral regulation:

• GIT hormones on liberation into portal venous blood via systemic circulation reach pancreatic tissue to stimulate the secretion of pancreatic juice.
• They are.
  1. Secretin:
     • Discovered by Bayliss and Starling.
     • It is produced by S cells of mucous membrane in duodenum and jejunum.
       Action:
     • Acts on the cells of pancreatic ductules via cyclic AMP.
     • It causes secretion of large amount of watery juice with high concentration of bicarbonate ion.
     • It also stimulates bile secretion and potentiates the effect of CCK-PZ on the pancreas.
  2. Cholecystokinin-pancreozymin (CCK – PZ):
     • It causes contraction of gall bladder to release bile.
     • Causes secretion of pancreatic juice rich in enzymes.
     • It also increases the secretion of enterokinase.
     • It increases the motility of small and large intestine.

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1. 1. Gastrin:
      • It is produced by the pyloric antrum, duodenum and in some conditions, pancreatic islet tumours.
      • It stimulates pancreatic secretion rich in enzymes.
   2. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP):
      • It stimulates pancreatic secretion mainly rich in HCO3, water and to some extent enzymes.
      • It stimulates intestinal secretion of electrolytes and water.