What is the pancreas?
What is the pancreas?
The pancreas is a large gland in the abdomen located behind the stomach and next to the upper part of the small intestine (the duodenum).
The pancreas has two main jobs:
- It sends powerful digestive enzymes into the small intestine to help with the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and fat.
- It releases the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. These hormones are involved in the metabolism of blood glucose (sugar), which regulates how the body stores and uses food for energy.