!Pancreas
!!Anatomical overview
The pancreas is a 6-inch long heterocrine gland in the ((Digestive - System Overview|digestive system)), located inferior to the ((Digestive - Stomach Overview|stomach)) and surrounded by the ((Digestive - Duodenum|duodenum)) on its medial end. This organ extends laterally from the duodenum toward the left side of the abdominal cavity, where it tapers to a point.
The pancreas is considered a heterocrine gland because it has both __endocrine and exocrine__ gland functions. Small masses of endocrine cells known as pancreatic islets make up around 1% of the pancreas and produce the hormones ((Endocrine - Pancreas - Beta Islet Cells|insulin)) and ((Endocrine - Pancreas - Alpha Islet Cells|glucagon)) to regulate glucose homeostasis in the ((Circulatory - Blood|blood stream)). The other 99% of the pancreas contains ((Digestive - Pancreas Gland|exocrine cells)) that produce powerful enzymes that are excreted into the duodenum during digestion. These __enzymes together with water and sodium bicarbonate__ secreted from the pancreas are known as pancreatic juice.

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{img fileId="257" thumb="box"}graphic: wikipedia, [https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Blausen_gallery_2014|Blausen.com staff]

!!Brain
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!!!Relay:
__Brain Stem__ (+/-) right side, between duodenum & liver relays, for ((Digestive - Pancreas Gland|Exocrine Tissue))
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__Cerebral Cortex__ (-/+) insular region mediolateral right side "4 o'clock" relay, for ((Digestive - Pancreas Ducts|Pancreas Duct))
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__Cerebral Cortex__ (-/+) baso-central, diencephalon left, for ((Endocrine - Pancreas - Alpha Islet Cells|Alpha Islet Cells)) (glucagon)
__Cerebral Cortex__ (-/+) baso-central, diencephalon right, for ((Endocrine - Pancreas - Beta Islet Cells|Beta Islet Cells)) (insulin)
{img fileId="256" thumb="box"}graphic: [https://web.stanford.edu/group/hopes/cgi-bin/hopes_test/the-hopes-brain-tutorial-text-version/|Stanford University]
