The pancreas is a vital organ in the human body. The production of hormones and enzymes depends on its functioning. If you are not familiar with the pain in this organ, and you have no idea where the pancreas is and how to treat it, you are a happy person! Alas, today more and more people suffer from pathologies of this organ. Where the pancreas is located, the symptoms of diseases and treatment methods you will learn from this article. Dietitians' recommendations for this category of patients will also be given.
Where is the pancreas in humans?
Regardless of gender and age, the localization of this organ in all people is the same. The head is located next to the duodenum and communicates with its duct. The tail of the gland is adjacent to the spleen. And the body is located right behind the stomach. If the patient takes a horizontal position - the body will move smoothly into the area under the stomach.
Often young doctors and people far from anatomy interpret the location of the gland according to its name - "pancreas". So, it should be located directly under the cavity of the stomach. In fact, this is not so; it changes its position depending on whether a person is standing or sitting.
You can clearly see in the photo where the pancreas is and how it looks.
On which side is the gland - right or left?
The patient often cannot determine the exact location of the pain - either on the right or on the left. But really, on which side, where is the pancreas? The head is located on the right side of the lumbar beginning. It is covered by the bend of the duodenum.
The body of the pancreas is located approximately at the level of the first vertebra of the lumbar region. Both parts of the organ are spread out in opposite directions from the spine. The front part is under the stomach. The back is next to the renal vein and left kidney. Now you know where the pancreas is located - on the left or on the right.
Gland sizes
In length - up to 17 cm, in width - up to 4 cm. In case of chronic inflammation (pancreatitis), the pancreas can change its size and deviate closer to the anterior wall of the peritoneum.
An ultrasound or radiography is performed to determine the exact size. The size of the malignant formations (usually located in the head of the gland) can be clarified using MRI or CT.
Organ structure
By its structure, the pancreas is a rather complex alveolar-tubular organ and consists of many small lobes. Some of them are responsible for the production of hormones (endocrine function), while others are responsible for the synthesis of enzymes (exocrine function). In the digestive system, iron is the second largest after the stomach.
It consists of a body, head, tail, central part. The gland is closely adjacent to the common bile duct, duodenum, pyloric canal of the stomach, spleen, gall bladder.
The main functions of the body
The endocrine function of an organ is the production of the most important hormones (in particular, insulin), without which neither metabolism nor normal functioning of the whole is possible. The human body is built very wisely, and many organs in it can support and assume the functions of a "neighbor" if he temporarily takes the "sick leave". With regard to the pancreas, this cannot be said - this organ is truly irreplaceable. If insulin production is disrupted, then, as if by the principle of dominoes, all other systems and organs will begin to fail.
The exocrine function is the production of enzymes, without which the process of digesting food will stop. Gastric juice simply cannot break down food. Modern medicine has found a way: you can take enzymes in the form of tablets and capsules.
Pancreatic hormones
Insulin is a polypeptide consisting of 51 amino acids. Pancreatic lobule cells are responsible for insulin synthesis. In them, insulin is synthesized from its precursor proinsulin, which, in turn, is formed from carbohydrate processed products.
With a violation of the production of pancreatic hormones, the first type of diabetes mellitus can occur. This is an incurable condition characterized by a failure of carbohydrate metabolism and impaired insulin resistance.
In addition to insulin, the endocrine part of the pancreas produces:
- glucagon;
- c peptide;
- pancreatic polypeptide;
- gastrin.
Pancreatic enzymes
Pancreatic juice consists of only three main enzymes:
- Trypsin. This enzyme is able to break down complex protein structures. It is thanks to him that our body receives the necessary amount of essential amino acids from dairy products, meat, eggs. For vegetarians, the production of this enzyme is often stopped as unnecessary, and when they start eating meat again, trypsin is already synthesized worse, as a result of which there is a myth about the “rotting” of meat in the stomach.
- Lipase is an enzyme responsible for the digestion of fats. They are converted to acids. The lipase can be partially synthesized by the liver, gall bladder.
- Amylase is an enzyme that processes carbohydrates. It is because of interruptions with this enzyme that pancreatic inflammation often develops. Often, amylase synthesis is stopped in people who have been on strict low-carb diets for a long time.
A few minutes after the start of the meal, enzymes begin to be synthesized in the lobes of the pancreas. This process takes a healthy person from two to six hours. In chronic pancreatitis, enzyme production can take up to twenty hours.
Symptoms of pancreatic problems
In the early stages of the development of chronic diseases of this organ, the patient does not feel pain. Some may experience mild nausea or bloating from time to time. And the pain - and very severe one - comes already at a confident second stage of development of chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
Here are some of the first troubles that this body can give:
- nausea, which itself disappears after half an hour after eating;
- after feasts with alcoholic drinks and fatty foods - vomiting, pale complexion, stitching pains in the right hypochondrium (the patient often thinks that his liver hurts, but this is not so);
- weakness, apathy, desire to lie down and sleep after every, even light, meal;
- frequent problems with digesting food - bad breath, "hydrogen sulfide" belching, frequent heartburn;
- persistent constipation and particles of undigested food in the feces.
If there is at least one symptom on an ongoing basis - this is an occasion to visit a gastroenterologist, undergo an ultrasound of the digestive system, and pass a biochemical blood test. Now you know where the pancreas is and how it hurts.
The relationship of pain symptoms and the location of the gland
Depending on the nature and intensity of the patient's pain, you can try to make a preliminary diagnosis.
For inflammation of the tail of the gland, a symptom of Hubergrits-Skulsky is characteristic. The pain appears between the navel and the left costal arch and is aching, painful in nature. In some cases, it occurs only after overeating and alcohol libations.
Symptom Zakharyin (pain in the solar plexus, on the right side) - indicates inflammatory processes in the head of the pancreas.
Fitz's symptoms are accompanied by acute epigastric pain. Nausea, vomiting, indigestion, and stopping the digestive process are also possible.
Self-medication of pancreatic problems is unacceptable. If you have at least one of the above symptoms, you need to get an appointment with a gastroenterologist and diagnose the digestive system.
The most common diseases
In the first "honorable" place - acute pancreatitis. This is an inflammation of the pancreas that requires urgent hospitalization of the patient. It is characterized by severe, paroxysmal pain in the upper right abdomen. Patients often think that it hurts the liver - only the doctor can establish the exact cause of the malaise after a thorough examination. If there is no strength to endure pain before the ambulance arrives, ice can be applied to the stomach. This procedure temporarily alleviates the condition.
Chronic pancreatitis. If the discomfort after eating, nausea, heartburn and weakness for a long time are ignored - the patient has every chance of having this unpleasant disease. It is often found in men and women who abuse alcohol and fatty foods. Untreated chronic pancreatitis eventually leads to the death of gland cells. Then doctors diagnose pancreatic necrosis, which in most cases leads to a quick death.
In rare cases, pancreatic tumors may occur. Malignant or not - can be determined using special punctures. The exact size of the tumor can be found on MRI or CT. Quite reliable results can also be reported by a competent doctor after an ultrasound scan.
Pancreas treatment
In general terms, they figured out how it hurts and where the pancreas is located. Treatment for all patients is usually fairly standard, based on a strict diet.
After accurate diagnosis and analysis, we can talk about the choice of therapy. In diseases of the pancreas, the doctor most often prescribes drugs of several groups:
- Painkillers. Some analgesics can be taken while waiting for an ambulance. This is "Analgin", "Aspirin", "Drotaverin". The doctor can tell you the exact name of the pain medication by telephone if the patient has absolutely no strength to endure the pain.
- Antacids - to neutralize hydrochloric acid - "Almagel", "Phosphalugel".
- Enzyme preparations are usually prescribed for chronic pancreatitis. Such tablets are in tablet form, a substitute for trypsin, lipase or amylase. They should be taken in parallel with each meal.
They rarely resort to surgical intervention - mainly in the presence of tumors and cysts on the organ.
An important point in the treatment of any pathology of the pancreas is diet. Where is the alcoholic supermarket - you have to forget once and for all. It is alcoholic drinks that have a killer effect on all departments of the pancreas. Enemy number 2 - fatty foods. About pork tenderloin, bacon, lamb will also have to be forgotten.
Of sweets, preference should be given to fruits and berries. Exclude completely cakes and pastries with fatty creams, yeast dough, baking.