Definition of pancreas Pancreas

/pæˈnkɹiʌs/ - [pankreeus] - pan•cre•as

We found 7 definitions of pancreas from 7 different sources.

What does pancreas mean?

Noun Plural: pancreas
pancreas - a large elongated exocrine gland located behind the stomach; secretes pancreatic juice and insulin
		duct gland, exocrine, exocrine gland a gland that secretes externally through a duct
		digestive system, gastrointestinal system, systema alimentarium, systema digestorium the system that makes food absorbable into the body
		pancreatic duct a duct connecting the pancreas with the intestine

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pancreas (Noun)
A gland near the stomach which secretes a fluid into the duodenum to help with food digestion. The fluid contains protease, carbohydrase and lipase, which breaks down larger molecules into smaller pieces. The pancreas also produces the hormones insulin and glucagon which regulate blood sugar. These hormones are released into the cardiovascular system . Hviveldyr by Jørgensen, Jørgen M. Danish author, ISBN 978-87-02-07684-4.

pancreas (n.)
The sweetbread, a gland connected with the intestine of nearly all vertebrates. It is usually elongated and light-colored, and its secretion, called the pancreatic juice, is discharged, often together with the bile, into the upper part of the intestines, and is a powerful aid in digestion. See Illust. of Digestive apparatus.

pancreas
An organ in the digestive and endocrine system that serves the functions of exocrine and endocrine.

pancreas
pan′krē-as, n. a conglomerate gland, lying transversely across the posterior wall of the abdomen, secreting the pancreatic juice which pours with the bile into the digestive system.—adj. Pancreat′ic, pertaining to the pancreas.—ns. Pan′creatin, the pancreatic juice; Pancreatīt′is, inflammation of the pancreas. [Gr. pas, pan, all, kreas, flesh.]

The pancreas is an organ that releases hormones and enzymes to help digestion.

It releases substances through special cells called the Islets of Langerhans'".

The pancreas belongs to two systems of function (the digestive system due to its role in breaking down nutrients and the endocrine system for its role in hormone production).