| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Acini cells | Glandular epithelia cells that make up about 99% of the clusters which constitute the exocrine portion of the pancreas; secretes a mixture of fluid and digestive enzymes called pancreatic juice |
| Pancreatic duct | Major duct of the pancreas that forms along the pancreas and joins the common bile duct in the hepatopancreatic ampulla of the duodenum |
| Accessory duct | Smaller duct that leads from the pancreas into the duodenum superior to the hepatopancreatic ampulla |
| Pancreatic amylase | Enzyme in pancreatic juice that digests starch |
| Trypsin | Protein digesting enzyme in pancreatic juice that is inactive until it reaches the small intestine |
| Pancreatic lipase | Enzyme in pancreatic juice that breaks down triglycerides (fats and oils), creating fatty acids and monoglycerides |
| Deoxyribonuclease | Nucleic acid digesting enzyme that breaks down deoxyribonucleic acid, producing nucleotides |
| Ribonuclease | Nucleic acid digesting enzyme that breaks down ribonucleic acid to produce nucleotides |
| Chymotrypsin | Chymotrysinogen when inactive; is activated by trypsin and breaks down proteins into peptides |
| Carboxypeptidase | Protein digesting enzyme that is activated by trypsin; released as procarboxypeptidase (inactive form) |
| Sodium bicarbonate | A product of pancreatic juice that is slightly alkaline (ph 7.1-8.2) to buffer the acid gastric juice in chyme, stopping the action of pepsin in the stomach |
| Pancreatitis | Inflammation of the pancreas that occurs in association with alcohol abuse or chronic gallstones |
Combine with other sets
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