PANCREATIC JUICES Meaning and
Definition
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Pancreatic juices refer to the digestive fluids secreted by the pancreas, a small organ located behind the stomach in the human body. These juices play a vital role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. Composed of various enzymes and other components, pancreatic juices aid in breaking down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into smaller molecules that can be easily absorbed by the body.
The primary enzymes present in pancreatic juices include amylase, proteases, and lipase. Amylase helps in breaking down complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars like glucose, proteases assist in digesting proteins into amino acids, and lipase aids in breaking down fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
These enzymes are typically released into the small intestine through the pancreatic duct, which connects the pancreas to the digestive system. Pancreatic juices are alkaline in nature, containing bicarbonate ions that neutralize the acidic content of partially digested food that enters the small intestine from the stomach. This pH adjustment ensures optimal conditions for the enzymes to function effectively.
The secretion of pancreatic juices is primarily regulated by the hormones secretin and cholecystokinin, which are released by the intestinal walls in response to food. Any disruption in the production or release of pancreatic juices can lead to digestive disorders, such as pancreatic enzyme deficiency or pancreatitis.
Common Misspellings for PANCREATIC JUICES
- pancreatic juce
- pancreatic juise
- oancreatic juices
- lancreatic juices
- -ancreatic juices
- 0ancreatic juices
- pzncreatic juices
- psncreatic juices
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- pqncreatic juices
- pabcreatic juices
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- pajcreatic juices
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- panfreatic juices
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- panceeatic juices
- pancdeatic juices
Etymology of PANCREATIC JUICES
The word "pancreatic" originates from the Greek word "pankreas" which literally translates to "all flesh". The term was introduced by the ancient Greek physician Herophilus, who named the organ located near the stomach as "pankreas" due to its spongy texture compared to other organs.
The term "juices" refers to the fluid secretions produced by the pancreas. In the case of the pancreas, these secretions contain various enzymes that aid in the digestion of food.
Therefore, the etymology of the word "pancreatic juices" refers to the fluids secreted by the pancreas, which help digest food.
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