Definition of Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas. Of the
many diverse causes of pancreatitis, the most common are alcohol and
gallstones.
The pancreas is a spongy, tube-shaped organ about
6 inches long. It is located in the back of the abdomen, behind the
stomach. The head of the pancreas is on the right side of the
abdomen. It is connected to the duodenum, the upper end of the small
intestine. The narrow end of the pancreas, called the tail, extends
to the left side of the body.
The pancreas makes pancreatic juices and hormones, including
insulin. Pancreatic juices, also called enzymes, help digest food in
the small intestine. Insulin controls the amount of sugar in the
blood. Both enzymes and hormones are needed to keep the body working
right.
As pancreatic juices are made, they flow into the main pancreatic
duct. This duct joins the common bile duct, which connects the
pancreas to the liver and the gallbladder. The common bile duct,
which carries bile (a fluid that helps digest fat), connects to the
small intestine near the stomach.
Last Editorial Review: 3/26/1998 2:27:00 PMCommon Misspellings: pancreitis, pacreatitis, pankreantitis, pankretitus, pancreatitus, pancreatis
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