Pancreas

Looks like

A soft grey-pink gland the length of a hand, lying behind the stomach across the spine.

What it does

Makes the enzymes that digest a meal, and the insulin that stores it.

Keeping it well

Alcohol in moderation, treat gallstones, keep weight down; belt-like pain through to the back needs urgent care.

Its parts

• Head of pancreas
• Body & tail
• Pancreatic duct
• Exocrine acini
• Islets of Langerhans
• Pancreatic duct tree
• Parenchyma of pancreas

Related conditions

• Adrenal insufficiency (Addison's)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Gestational diabetes
• Haemochromatosis & Wilson's disease
• Hereditary cancer syndromes (BRCA, Lynch)
• Hyperthyroidism & Graves' disease
• Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
• Hypothyroidism
• Menopause & perimenopause
• Mumps
• Neuroendocrine tumours (carcinoid)
• Pancreatic cancer
• Pancreatitis
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Postnatal depression
• Prediabetes
• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes