Pancreatic juice is the fluid that the pancreas produces. It resembles an alkaline, clear, colorless liquid. The gland is located behind the peritoneum and joins the spine at the level of 1 and 2 vertebrae in the lumbar region. Approximately, in an adult, its mass is 80 grams and a length of 22 cm. The pancreas has a head, body and tail. It consists of glandular tissue and excretory ducts. According to the latter, the pancreatic juice advances into the duodenum. What composition does it have and what function does it perform in the body? This will be discussed now.
Composition of pancreatic juice
The following components are part of pancreatic fluid:
- creatinine;
- uric acid;
- urea;
- various trace elements.
A person produces about 1.5-2 liters of pancreatic juice per day. Secretion is controlled by the nervous and endocrine systems. With a large amount of pancreatic juice that releases iron, an acute and chronic stage of pancreatitis develops. With a lack of secretion, a person quickly loses weight, although he has an increased appetite, and eats a lot. This is due to the fact that food is poorly absorbed in the body. Pancreatic juice plays a huge role in the process of digesting food. Its composition includes water to a greater extent. So, approximately 98 percent falls on it and 2 percent on other organic elements.
Pancreatic juice and its enzymes
Enzymes of pancreatic juice are divided into two groups: organic and inorganic. Organic include:
- chymotrypsin;
- trypsin;
- phospholipase;
- elastase;
- carboxypeptidase and other enzymes in the form of proenzymes with the ability to break down proteins, fats and carbohydrates during their digestion.
Inorganic enzymes include:
- amylase;
- maltase;
- lactase;
- lipase.
Pancreatic enzymes are quite aggressive. Therefore, iron produces a trypsin inhibitor to prevent self-digestion of cells.
Pancreatic juice: function
For a person, the pancreas is of great importance and performs many necessary functions. First of all, it produces the liquid that is needed to digest food. With this property, food entering the stomach is processed into substances that are subsequently distributed throughout the body. It controls the digestion of the pancreatic juice. It contains all the necessary enzymes for digestion. It is very important that the acidity of the pancreas is not lower than 7.5 pH and not higher than 8.5 pH. Pancreatic juice (pancreatic juice) is produced with each meal in the stomach and becomes the main one in the process of digestion.
Features of proper digestion
In order for pancreatic juice to be allocated in sufficient quantities and the digestion process to proceed quickly and smoothly, it is necessary to adhere to a healthy and healthy diet, try to avoid eating spicy, fried and fatty foods. Such food will lead to an increased load in the work of the intestines and stomach, which will affect the adverse functioning of the pancreas.
Features of the juice that the pancreas produces
There are three main phases in pancreatic juice production:
Brain It is based on conditioned and unconditioned reflexes. To conditional concerns:
- food visibility;
- her smell;
- cooking process;
- mention of delicious food.
In this case, pancreatic juice is secreted by nerve impulses that go from the cerebral cortex to the gland. Therefore, this process is called conditioned reflex.
The unconditioned reflex effects include the production of pancreatic juice when irritated by eating the pharynx and oral cavity.
The brain phase is short-lived and it produces little juice, but a large number of enzymes.
Gastric This phase is based on irritation of the receptors by food that has entered the stomach. Due to this, neurons are excited and enter the gland through the secretory fibers, where juice is released under the influence of a special hormone, gastrin. In the gastric phase, the juice has few salts and water, and a lot of organic enzymes.
Intestinal. It passes under the influence of humoral and nerve impulses. Under the control of the gastric composition that enters the duodenum and the products of incomplete breakdown of nutrients, impulses are transmitted to the brain and then to the gland, as a result of which the production of pancreatic juice begins.
The effect of food on pancreatic juice production
At rest, the pancreas does not produce pancreatic juice. In the process of eating and after it, the discharge becomes continuous. Pancreatic juice, its quantity, functions in relation to the digestion of food, and the duration of the process depend on the quality values of the food and its composition. Pancreatic juice is produced in large quantities by eating bread and bakery products. A little less for meat, and very little for dairy products. Pancreatic fluid, which is allocated for processing meat and meat products, is more alkaline than that produced by other products. When eating fatty foods, the juice in its composition has three times more lipase (compared to meat dishes).
The center of the digestive system has a complex structure, its components are located in many parts of the brain. All of them are interconnected. The digestive center has many functions. Among them can be distinguished such as:
- participates in the regulation of motor, absorption and secretory function;
- gives a signal of hunger, a feeling of fullness and thirst.
Hunger is the presence of sensations due to the need for food intake. It is based on an unconditioned reflex transmitted to the pancreas from the nervous system. It is better to eat in small portions up to five times a day. Then the pancreas will function correctly and without failure.
Take care of yourself and be healthy!