Playing a significant role in keeping the human body normally healthy is the pancreas. The pancreas is a tiny organ in the body, about six inches long, flat pear-shaped, located in the upper part of the abdomen, and near the small intestines. Colored pink or light tan, it is covered with a connective thin tissue, dividing it into lobules. The right part called the head, is the largest portion, located in the first curve of the small intestine, towards the center of the abdomen. The middle section called the neck is the pancreas’ body. The smaller portion or the tail, ends adjacent to the spleen.

The pancreas lies toward the back. Since it is deep within the body, doctors usually find it difficult to diagnose pancreas-related diseases.

The pancreas is an important organ that is a part of the endocrine and digestive systems. The significant role of the pancreas is that it makes hormones and enzymes like glucagon and insulin for the body to use. Enzymes are substances that speed up the body’s reactions. The enzymes that the body pancreas manufactures are needed for food digestion. Injury, disease or damage of the pancreas can result to severe illness and even death.

The pancreas can be affected by some issues that cause it to be ill, including inflammation, diabetes and cancer. When inflammation happens, the condition is called pancreatitis – a state that threatens life itself. It is caused by several reasons like long-term alcohol or drug use, viral infection, trauma, cystic fibrosis and cancer.

The pancreas is attacked by the immune system in type 1 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, it produces less insulin than normal. For the pancreas to be hit by cancer is a very difficult illness to cure. It has a survival rate of five years of less than 5 percent.

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