Bugspytkirtelens

Bugspytkirtelens, commonly referred to as the pancreas in English, is a gland of the digestive system. It sits in the upper abdomen behind the stomach and extends from the duodenum toward the spleen.

Anatomy and function: The pancreas has exocrine and endocrine components. Exocrine tissue consists of acinar cells that produce digestive enzymes—amylase, lipase, and proteases such as trypsinogen—that are released into the pancreatic duct and emptied into the duodenum. The endocrine part consists of islets of Langerhans, which secrete insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide into the bloodstream, regulating metabolism.

Development, blood supply, and innervation: It develops from foregut endoderm. Arterial supply comes from branches of the splenic, superior pancreaticoduodenal, and sometimes the gastroduodenal arteries; venous drainage goes to the portal vein. Innervation is via the vagus nerve and splanchnic nerves.

Physiology and clinical significance: The exocrine function aids digestion by delivering enzymes to the intestine; the endocrine function regulates blood glucose. Disorders include pancreatitis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, pancreatic cancer, and diabetes mellitus. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, malabsorption, and hyperglycemia. Diagnosis involves blood tests (lipase, amylase, glucose), imaging (ultrasound, CT, MRI), and sometimes endoscopic procedures (ERCP).

Terminology and naming: In Swedish medical literature, bugspytkirtelns denotes the pancreas in genitive form. The term is used in discussions of anatomy and physiology alongside the English word pancreas.