4th Post

The Pancreas is a yellowish organ in us,and lies below the stomach.It is connected to the duodenum(as you can see).

Its main job in the digestive system is to create enzymes to digest food and break down starch,proteins,and fats which are mixed with chyme(...Remember that apple pie?Chyme is partially undigested food) .It creates a mixture called 'Pancreatic Juice',(alkaline),which contains amylase(break down starch),lipase(break down fats) and trypsin(break down proteins),and water.

Video:





Word for word,hmm?:P

Well,back to the Duodenum,and the small intestines.

The Duodenum



The duodenum is the first section of the 'Jejunum',which is in other words the small intestines.

Though the duodenum is such a tiny fraction of the small intestine, it is the site of most of the breakdown of the food passing through it(Therefore why there is such a special place for it). The duodenum is lined with Brunner's glands, which secrete an alkaline mucus that support the intestinal enzymes and aids in the absorption of nutrients. The pancreatic duct, which introduces bile and pancreatic juice into the small intestine, is directly connected to the descending duodenum.Pancreatic juice contains enzymes that help break down food, while bile aids in the digestion and absorption of fats. The duodenum is responsible for secreting hormones that trigger the pancreatic duct to release pancreatic juice and bile.

As the chyme went through the stomach which has a very high acid level,both the Brunner's glands and the pancreatic duct secrete alkaline fluids to temper the acidity of the chyme. In addition, the mucus secreted by the Brunner's glands helps protect the duodenum from the acidity, making the duodenum much less sensitive than the rest of the small intestine to the acidic chyme. Therefore, the duodenum helps protect the rest of the small intestine by neutralizing the chyme to some extent before it passes into the jejunum(the small intestines are not protected by mucus).This is probably the reason why the pancreatic juice from the pancreas is alkaline instead of acid.

The Jejunum

Now I know you are VERY VERY BORED from all that text and stuff,so heres a little treat for you!



Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreas
http://www.mamashealth.com/organs/pancreas.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duodenum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jejunum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5WF8wUFNkI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fbiochembloggie.blogspot.com%2F&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu5jDCX2cHM&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fbiochembloggie.blogspot.com%2F&feature=player_embedded
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Illu_small_intestine.jpg/250px-Illu_small_intestine.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Illu_pancrease.jpg