!Liver, Gallbladder, Pancreas
!!Anatomical Overview
These exocrine glands belong to the ((Digestive - System Overview|digestive system)) and produce __specific digestive juices__ which have a common duct into the ((Digestive - Duodenum|duodenum)).

Localization of the digestive organs:
{img fileId="243" thumb="box"}graphic: wikipedia/Mariana Ruiz Villarreal

Digestive glands:
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!!!Liver
The liver is a roughly triangular organ that extends across the entire abdominal cavity just inferior to the ((Respiratory - Diaphragm|diaphragm)). Most of the liver’s mass is located on the right side of the body where it descends inferiorly toward the right kidney. The ((Digestive - Liver - Parenchyma|liver)) is made of very soft, pinkish-brown tissues encapsulated by a connective tissue capsule. This capsule is further covered and reinforced by the ((Digestive - Visceral Fascia - Peritoneum|peritoneum)) of the abdominal cavity, which protects the liver and holds it in place within the abdomen. The liver consists of 4 distinct lobes – the left, right, caudate, and quadrate lobes.
The liver's __main functions__ are:
*bile production for digestion of fats
*((Circulatory - Blood|blood)) proteine production
*Energy storage
*Detoxification
!!!Gallbladder
The ((Digestive - Gallbladder and Bile Ducts|gallbladder)) is a 3-inch long pear-shaped sac located on the posterior border of the liver. Connected to the ((Digestive - Gallbladder and Bile Ducts|bile ducts)) of the liver through the cystic duct, the gallbladder receives __bile transported from the liver for storage__ on a regular basis to prepare for the digestion of future meals. During digestion of a meal, ((Organ Walls - Smooth Muscle Layer|smooth muscles)) in the walls of the gallbladder contract to push bile into the bile ducts that lead to the ((Digestive - Duodenum|duodenum)). Once in the duodenum, bile helps with the __digestion of fats__.

!!!Pancreas
The pancreas is a 6-inch long __heterocrine gland__ 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 (((Endocrine - Pancreas - Alpha Islet Cells|alpha)) and ((Endocrine - Pancreas - Beta Islet Cells|beta ))cell 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 blood stream. The other 99% of the pancreas contains ((Digestive - Pancreas Gland|exocrine cells)) that produce powerful __enzymes__ that are ((Digestive - Pancreas Ducts|excreted)) into the duodenum during digestion. These enzymes together with water and sodium bicarbonate secreted from the pancreas are known as pancreatic juice.

!!Brain
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!!!Relay:
*__Brain Stem__ (+/-): Exocrine tissue of ((Digestive - Liver - Parenchyma|Liver)) & ((Digestive - Pancreas Gland|Pancreas)) and
*__Midbrain__ (+/0): Gallbladder ((Organ Walls - Smooth Muscle Layer|smooth muscle))
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*__Cerebral Cortex__ (-/+): ((Digestive - Gallbladder and Bile Ducts|Gallbladder lining & Intrahepatic Bile Ducts)), ((Digestive - Pancreas Ducts|Pancreas Ducts)), Pancreas ((Endocrine - Pancreas - Alpha Islet Cells|Alpha)) & ((Endocrine - Pancreas - Beta Islet Cells|Beta Islet Cells))
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*__Cerebral Medulla__ (-/+): Hepatic ((Circulatory - Arteries|Arteries)), ((Circulatory - Veins|Veins)) and Capillaries - ((Circulatory - Lymph-Vessels|Lymph vessels)) & ((Circulatory - Lymph-Nodes |Lymph nodes))
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