Exocrine pancreas
Encyclopedia
The exocrine pancreas
has ducts that are arranged in clusters called acini (singular acinus). Pancreatic secretions are secreted into the lumen
of the acinus, and then accumulate in intralobular ducts that drain to the main pancreatic duct
, which drains directly into the duodenum
.
Control of the exocrine function of the pancreas is via the hormones gastrin
, cholecystokinin
and secretin
, which are hormone
s secreted by cells in the stomach
and duodenum
, in response to distension and/or food and which cause secretion of pancreatic juices.
There are two main classes of exocrine pancreatic secretions:
Pancreatic secretions from ductal cells contain bicarbonate
ions and are alkaline in order to neutralize the acidic chyme
that the stomach churns out.
The pancreas is also the main source of enzymes for digesting fat
s (lipids) and proteins. (The enzymes that digest polysaccharides, by contrast, are primarily produced by the walls of the intestine
s.)
The cells are filled with secretory granules containing the precursor digestive enzymes.
The major proteases which the pancreas secretes are trypsinogen
and chymotrypsinogen
. Secreted to a lesser degree are pancreatic lipase
and pancreatic amylase
. The pancreas also secretes phospholipase A2
, lysophospholipase
, and cholesterol esterase.
The precursor enzymes (termed zymogen
s or proenzymes) are inactive variants of the enzymes; thus autodegradation is avoided, which can lead to pancreatitis
. Once released in the intestine, the enzyme enteropeptidase
(formerly, and incorrectly, called enterokinase) present in the intestinal mucosa activates trypsinogen by cleaving it to form trypsin
. The free trypsin then cleaves the rest of the trypsinogen, as well as chymotrypsinogen to its active form chymotrypsin
.
Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as a digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist...
has ducts that are arranged in clusters called acini (singular acinus). Pancreatic secretions are secreted into the lumen
Lumen (anatomy)
A lumen in biology is the inside space of a tubular structure, such as an artery or intestine...
of the acinus, and then accumulate in intralobular ducts that drain to the main pancreatic duct
Pancreatic duct
The pancreatic duct, or duct of Wirsung , is a duct joining the pancreas to the common bile duct to supply pancreatic juices which aid in digestion provided by the "exocrine pancreas"...
, which drains directly into the duodenum
Duodenum
The duodenum is the first section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms anterior intestine or proximal intestine may be used instead of duodenum...
.
Control of the exocrine function of the pancreas is via the hormones gastrin
Gastrin
In humans, gastrin is a peptide hormone that stimulates secretion of gastric acid by the parietal cells of the stomach and aids in gastric motility. It is released by G cells in the antrum of the stomach, duodenum, and the pancreas...
, cholecystokinin
Cholecystokinin
Cholecystokinin is a peptide hormone of the gastrointestinal system responsible for stimulating the digestion of fat and protein...
and secretin
Secretin
Secretin is a hormone that controls the secretions into the duodenum, and also separately, water homeostasis throughout the body. It is produced in the S cells of the duodenum in the crypts of Lieberkühn...
, which are hormone
Hormone
A hormone is a chemical released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one...
s secreted by cells in the stomach
Stomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...
and duodenum
Duodenum
The duodenum is the first section of the small intestine in most higher vertebrates, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. In fish, the divisions of the small intestine are not as clear and the terms anterior intestine or proximal intestine may be used instead of duodenum...
, in response to distension and/or food and which cause secretion of pancreatic juices.
There are two main classes of exocrine pancreatic secretions:
| Secretion | Cell producing it | Primary signal >- | bicarbonate Bicarbonate In inorganic chemistry, bicarbonate is an intermediate form in the deprotonation of carbonic acid... ions |
Centroacinar cells Centroacinar cells Centroacinar cells are spindle-shaped cells in the exocrine pancreas. Centroacinar cells are an extension of the intercalated duct cells into each pancreatic acinus. The intercalated ducts take the bicarbonate to intralobular ducts which become lobular ducts... |
Secretin Secretin Secretin is a hormone that controls the secretions into the duodenum, and also separately, water homeostasis throughout the body. It is produced in the S cells of the duodenum in the crypts of Lieberkühn... >- | digestive enzymes |
Basophilic cells | CCK Cholecystokinin Cholecystokinin is a peptide hormone of the gastrointestinal system responsible for stimulating the digestion of fat and protein... |
Pancreatic secretions from ductal cells contain bicarbonate
Bicarbonate
In inorganic chemistry, bicarbonate is an intermediate form in the deprotonation of carbonic acid...
ions and are alkaline in order to neutralize the acidic chyme
Chyme
Chyme is the semifluid mass of partly digested food expelled by the stomach into the duodenum.Also known as chymus, it is the liquid substance found in the stomach before passing through the pyloric valve and entering the duodenum...
that the stomach churns out.
The pancreas is also the main source of enzymes for digesting fat
Fat
Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and generally insoluble in water. Chemically, fats are triglycerides, triesters of glycerol and any of several fatty acids. Fats may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure...
s (lipids) and proteins. (The enzymes that digest polysaccharides, by contrast, are primarily produced by the walls of the intestine
Intestine
In human anatomy, the intestine is the segment of the alimentary canal extending from the pyloric sphincter of the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine...
s.)
The cells are filled with secretory granules containing the precursor digestive enzymes.
The major proteases which the pancreas secretes are trypsinogen
Trypsinogen
Trypsinogen is the precursor form or zymogen of the pancreatic enzyme trypsin. It is found in pancreatic juice, along with amylase, lipase, and chymotrypsinogen. It is activated by enteropeptidase, which is found in the intestinal mucosa, to form trypsin. Once activated, the trypsin can activate...
and chymotrypsinogen
Chymotrypsinogen
Chymotrypsinogen is a precursor of the digestive enzyme chymotrypsin.This molecule is inactive and must be cleaved by trypsin, and then by other...
. Secreted to a lesser degree are pancreatic lipase
Pancreatic lipase
Pancreatic lipase, also known as pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase, is secreted from the pancreas, and is the primary lipase that hydrolyzes dietary fat molecules in the human digestive system, converting triglyceride substrates found in ingested oils to monoglycerides and free fatty acids.Bile...
and pancreatic amylase
Amylase
Amylase is an enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of starch into sugars. Amylase is present in human saliva, where it begins the chemical process of digestion. Food that contains much starch but little sugar, such as rice and potato, taste slightly sweet as they are chewed because amylase turns...
. The pancreas also secretes phospholipase A2
Phospholipase A2
Phospholipases A2 are enzymes that release fatty acids from the second carbon group of glycerol. This particular phospholipase specifically recognizes the sn-2 acyl bond of phospholipids and catalytically hydrolyzes the bond releasing arachidonic acid and lysophospholipids...
, lysophospholipase
Lysophospholipase
In enzymology, a lysophospholipase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reactionThus, the two substrates of this enzyme are 2-lysophosphatidylcholine and H2O, whereas its two products are glycerophosphocholine and carboxylate....
, and cholesterol esterase.
The precursor enzymes (termed zymogen
Zymogen
A zymogen is an inactive enzyme precursor. A zymogen requires a biochemical change for it to become an active enzyme. The biochemical change usually occurs in a lysosome where a specific part of the precursor enzyme is cleaved in order to activate it...
s or proenzymes) are inactive variants of the enzymes; thus autodegradation is avoided, which can lead to pancreatitis
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It occurs when pancreatic enzymes that digest food are activated in the pancreas instead of the small intestine. It may be acute – beginning suddenly and lasting a few days, or chronic – occurring over many years...
. Once released in the intestine, the enzyme enteropeptidase
Enteropeptidase
Enteropeptidase is an enzyme produced by cells of the duodenum and involved in human digestion. It is secreted from intestinal glands following the entry of ingested food passing from the stomach...
(formerly, and incorrectly, called enterokinase) present in the intestinal mucosa activates trypsinogen by cleaving it to form trypsin
Trypsin
Trypsin is a serine protease found in the digestive system of many vertebrates, where it hydrolyses proteins. Trypsin is produced in the pancreas as the inactive proenzyme trypsinogen. Trypsin cleaves peptide chains mainly at the carboxyl side of the amino acids lysine or arginine, except when...
. The free trypsin then cleaves the rest of the trypsinogen, as well as chymotrypsinogen to its active form chymotrypsin
Chymotrypsin
Chymotrypsin is a digestive enzyme that can perform proteolysis. Chymotrypsin preferentially cleaves peptide amide bonds where the carboxyl side of the amide bond is a tyrosine, tryptophan, or phenylalanine. These amino acids contain an aromatic ring in their sidechain that fits into a...
.
